How to Clean Silver Trays, Tea Sets, and Silver Serving Pieces

Vicky from Pueblo, Colorado had a formal dinner and needed to clean some of her seldom used serving pieces. “I was celebrating a big anniversary last year and our entire extended family came in for it, first time in years. I cleaned my silver trays and tea sets with Tarn-X® Tarnish Remover and received many compliments on how great they looked. Thank you Tarn-X!”

Guide to Clean Silver Trays and Tea Pots

Cleaning the tarnish off of ornate silver pieces that are only used at special occasions can be a real challenge. I usually suggest a two-step process. Use a toothpick with warm, soapy water to loosen any dried material that is embedded in the design of the piece. Wash the entire piece, rinse thoroughly with cold water and wipe the piece dry with a soft cloth. 

Once you’ve completed this process, while wearing household rubber gloves, dip a cotton ball or soft cloth in Tarn-X and apply to the affected areas of the piece. Rinse immediately with cold water and hand dry with a soft cloth. Never leave Tarn-X on any material longer than two minutes and always spot test in a small, inconspicuous area prior to cleaning the entire piece.

Tips for Maintaining Your Silver

Make sure to avoid getting any Tarn-X on stainless steel since it may damage the finish. We also recommend using a Silver Polish to help shine and protect your silver pieces from tarnishing as fast in the future.