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Silverware is a pretty interesting type of jewelry. While not nearly as “luxurious” as gold or other precious metals, it’s still associated with the luxurious lifestyle, and many accessories are either made of or plated with silver to this day. But like any other piece of jewelry, silverware can accumulate dirt and dust over time, which can be a problem if you have trouble cleaning them.
Luckily, there are cleaning kits made for this sort of thing. The finest silver jewelry cleaners for 2024 are the perfect choice for those looking to give their old silverware a much-needed clean-up. They’re easy to use and affordable to boot, so you don’t need to spend a lot of money to restore your silverware to its perfect form.
Our Picks of the Hottest Silver Jewelry Cleaner
W. J. Hagerty Silver Jewelry Cleaner — Best Overall
Now, most jewelry cleaners cost around $20 or less, and while this may seem like a lot to those unfamiliar with cleaners, it’s actually a fair price considering how well they’re able to restore your silverware. That being said, you can go far cheaper, and this silver cleaning solution just costs a couple of cents under $10. It doesn’t come with any wiping cloths, but you get an entire cleaner for that price, which isn’t that bad.
The cleaner is perfect for all sorts of silver jewelry, and it’s compatible with sterling silver, too. You can get rid of the natural tarnish that crops up on old silverware thanks to the powerful solution. The cleaner, like many others, comes with a dipping basket, so you don’t need to get your hands dirty (or in this case, cleaned) in the process.
Pros
- Works with sterling silver
- Affordable
Cons
- No cloth included
Wright's Silver Jewelry Cleaner — Runner Up
We’ve covered cleaning liquids for removing tarnish and dirt, but this next cleaner is actually meant for shining silverware instead. One of the key features of silver is its natural luster, which makes it look very appealing and eye-catching. The only problem, however, is that you need to polish it properly in order for the silver to really reveal its true shine.
This polish kit comes with a cream-based formula as well as a polishing cloth. Not only does the cream remove tarnish from the silverware but it also leaves a nice polish that’s bright and easy to spot. Best of all, the softness of the cloth makes it so that you don’t scratch your silverware in the process of cleaning. It’s easy and even fun to do, so we recommend this if you prefer a more hands-on approach to clean silverware.
Pros
- Doesn’t scratch silverware
- Comes with cloth
Cons
- Requires more effort than cleaning liquids
Simple Shine. Silver Jewelry Cleaner — Full Kit
If you want to clean your silverware perfectly, to the point where it looks brand new, then you’re going to need more than just cleaning liquid. This cleaning it is made specifically for silverware, and it contains both a cleaning solution as well as a polishing cloth to give your silver a nice, lustrous finish.
One interesting thing worth noting about this kit is that the tray used with the solution actually has a handle that’s fairly long. This handle allows you to use the cleaning liquid no matter how much remains inside, and you can safely lower and raise the jewelry without spilling the liquid everywhere. The cloth is also fairly high-quality, too, and it’s useful in removing any remaining traces of debris or tarnish.
Pros
- Easy to clean with
- Convenient tray
Cons
- Not ideal for watches
Weiman Silver Jewelry Cleaner — Honorable Mention
One common problem people have with cleaning their jewelry is that they often do not know how to do it, or at least are knowledgeable but are too scared to attempt it. After all, it’s expensive jewelry, why risk it when you can just pay someone else to clean it for you? Fortunately, when it comes to silverware, the process is actually so simple that you could even do it yourself.
This cleaner liquid by Weiman Jewelry comes with (almost) everything you need to clean your silverware. The liquid solution removes the tarnish and dirt, and the included tray ensures that you won’t just drop your silverware into the bottom of the container. You will need to use a cloth to wipe the silverware after you’re done, but once you’ve got that, you’re basically ready to clean silverware on your own.
Pros
- The tray keeps silverware in place
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not always available
Connoisseurs Silver Jewelry Cleaner — Also Consider
While cleaners are meant to be used on their own, there’s one extra little thing you may want to finish the job with - a cloth. And not just any cloth - a soft and light cloth that’s great for polishing and cleaning up silverware after it’s been put in a cleaning solution. Jewelry cloths are designed to make sure your silverware stays in perfect condition as you wipe and polish it away.
This silver jewelry cleaner by CONNOISSEURS is available on its own, but if you want to you can get it alongside a cleaning cloth. The cloth is extremely soft, and it’s usable right out of the box, so you can get to cleaning your jewelry as soon as it arrives on your doorstep. With a powerful solution that removes tarnish in just 10 seconds, you’ll have your entire silverware collection good as new in less than an hour.
Pros
- Powerful at removing tarnish
- Can be purchased with cloth
Cons
- Cloth is an added expense and not included with the base “kit”
Buying Guide: Silver Jewelry Cleaners
Silver jewelry can be quite the hassle to clean without the proper tools and materials. This is what you need to know about silver jewelry cleaners.
What Is a Silver Jewelry Cleaner?
A silver jewelry cleaner is a type of cleaning formula that cleans and removes dirt and tarnish without damaging the jewelry itself. The formula is entirely safe to use on silver jewelry, making it the ideal solution for turning old silver accessories into new-looking pieces of jewelry.
Why Does Silver Jewelry Become “Dirty”?
There’s a reason why your old silver ring or bracelet looks a lot dirtier than the day you bought or received it. It has to do with something known as tarnish — a substance that forms on the surface of many different metals. When certain metals come into contact with oxygen or sulfur, it will over time create tarnish, the grey or black substance that looks a lot like dirt. This can be cleaned, of course, but it’s not as easy to remove as using a wet cloth and calling it a day.
If you feel like tarnish sounds similar to another phenomenon, then you’re right. Rust is a substance that forms on the surface of iron and accumulates over time much like tarnish. However, rust is more of a red-brown in color whereas tarnish has a grey-black color to it instead. Aside from this, rust only really happens to iron and iron alloys whereas tarnish can happen to many different kinds of metals.
Of course, there’s also the issue of actual dirt and dust accumulating on your jewelry. While many jewelry owners keep their belongings inside safe boxes or compartments, others may not be as careful. Exposing your jewelry out in the open gives plenty of opportunities for dust and dirt to form around your accessories. They’re easier to clean than tarnish, of course, but they can still be a pain to clean and deal with if left unchecked for too long.
Why You Should Use Silver Jewelry Cleaners
It’s the safest way to clean silver jewelry
There are a few ways to clean silver jewelry, and you can get away with wiping it down with a piece of wet cloth. But there are always risks to cleaning jewelry with chemicals as you never know what’ll work and what won’t. Instead of risking it all by using whatever cleaning formula you have at home, the better alternative would be to use silver jewelry cleaners.
Silver jewelry cleaners are made specifically for silver jewelry and accessories, which means you can be certain that they’ll be completely fine to use on your earrings, bracelets, and the like. Unless you own some special, rare type of silver alloy, you should have no problems with using silver jewelry cleaners on your belongings.
They’re very easy to use
One other benefit to using silver jewelry cleaners is that they’re incredibly easy to use. Cleaning solutions with dip trays are as easy as placing the jewelry on the tray and then submerging the jewelry in the solution for the recommended amount of time. After that, all you have to do is take the tray out and you’ve got yourself a clean piece of silver jewelry that looks good as new.
Another type of silver jewelry cleaner involves the use of wax, which does require a bit more work, but it’s made easier with the help of additional items. Wax products will often come with cleaning cloths for easy and safe application of the wax. Since the cloth comes from the same brand as the wax, you know that you can apply the product safely without worrying about any scratches.
Types of Silver Jewelry Cleaner
Cleaning formula
This type of silver jewelry cleaner is incredibly easy to use. It usually comes in these small tubs of the substance that also includes a dip tray inside the tub itself. The way it works is very simple — place the jewelry inside the tray and dip it in the formula. How long you have to wait for the formula to work its magic depends on how dirty your jewelry is as well as the recommended waiting time. After you’ve waited a sufficient amount of time, you can remove the jewelry, wipe it down and you’re good to go.
The advantage of this type of jewelry cleaner is obvious — you don’t have to do much work at all. In fact, all you really need to do is dip the jewelry inside and you can do whatever you want while waiting. Watch a TV show, bathe the dog, or whatever else you can think of. It’s a very low-maintenance and hassle-free method that’s great for busy and working adults.
Cleaning wax
Wax is a product that adds shine to metals and other surfaces. People use wax for all sorts of things, including cars, floors, and jewelry. While it does involve a little more work than just dipping your jewelry in a formula, the results you get from it have the potential to be even better. If you haven’t worked with wax before, wax can result in some very professional-looking shines, and when done right your jewelry will look better than ever before.
There are a few ways to apply and rub wax on your jewelry, though the most common method is to use a piece of cloth. Ideally, the cloth has to be soft enough that it won’t cause scratches, and it should not leave behind any lint, either. For this reason, many people use microfiber cloth as it fits both of these requirements.
It can take a while to get used to waxing, and you will have to spend a bit more time than usual cleaning your jewelry. But the results are more than worth the effort, so it’s worth learning the process for that reason alone.
