A simple chemistry trick that brings back shine—when used wisely.
Silver fashion jewellery tarnishes when silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air, forming a dark layer of silver sulphide on the surface. The good news? You can reverse that reaction at home using common kitchen items.
This method is known as electrolytic (galvanic) reduction. In short, you’re creating a tiny electrochemical cell that transfers sulphur away from the silver and onto aluminium, restoring the silver’s shine.
What You’ll Need
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Aluminium foil
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Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
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Table salt (sodium chloride)
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Hot (near-boiling) water
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A glass or ceramic bowl
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Soft cloth for drying
Step-by-Step Method
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Line the bowl
Line the inside of a glass or ceramic bowl with aluminium foil, shiny side up. -
Add the cleaning agents
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt into the bowl. -
Place the jewellery
Lay the silver jewellery directly on the foil so it makes contact. -
Pour in hot water
Carefully add hot water until the jewellery is fully submerged. You may see gentle bubbling—this means the reaction has started. -
Wait briefly
Leave the items for 1–5 minutes, depending on how tarnished they are. -
Rinse and dry
Remove the jewellery, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth.
You’ll often notice the foil darkening—evidence that sulphur has transferred from the silver to the aluminium.
Why This Works (The Chemistry, Simply Explained)
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Aluminium is more reactive than silver.
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In the hot, salty, alkaline solution, electrons flow from aluminium to silver sulphide.
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The silver sulphide is reduced back to metallic silver, while sulphur bonds to aluminium instead.
This restores shine without abrasive rubbing.
Does This Harm Delicate Jewellery?
It can—if you’re not careful.
Generally safe for:
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Plain sterling silver
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Solid silver fashion jewellery without stones or coatings
Use caution or avoid if the piece has:
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Glued gemstones or crystals (heat and moisture can loosen adhesive)
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Oxidized or intentionally darkened finishes (the process will remove the dark patina)
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Plated silver (the reaction can thin or damage very fine plating)
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Soft or porous stones like pearls, opals, turquoise, or amber
For delicate or valuable pieces, gentle hand polishing with a silver cloth is safer.
Best-Practice Tips
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Keep soak times short—longer isn’t better
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Never use on costume jewellery with unknown metal cores
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Don’t repeat the process too often; it slightly alters the surface each time
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Always rinse well to remove residue
Final Thoughts
Electrolytic silver cleaning is fast, satisfying, and surprisingly scientific for a kitchen-counter trick. Used occasionally and on the right pieces, it’s an effective way to revive tarnished silver fashion jewellery—just remember that not all sparkle should be stripped away.