We have my mother in laws old silver serving set,how do i clean it?

Hi Missy, here's a great article from the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK that will help you clean your silver http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/caring-for-your-silver/

Hello,

if badly tarnished you can use silver polish and a soft cloth to clean it. If lightly tarnished it may come of when dipped in hot soapy water and then dried with a soft cloth.

I just use silver polish from Amazon and a soft cloth.

Hello. Here’s a link that could be helpful. It’s something I have to tackle as well. Thank you for the reminder…..

https://www.marthastewart.com/273003/diy-silver-polish

Here's the recipe for the baking soda/vinegar:

Cleaning Silver with Baking Soda

1. First, mix a tablespoon each of baking soda and salt; then add in one-half cup of white vinegar and a cup of boiling water (scaling the volume, of course, to meet the size of your piece).
2. Then, pour this solution in an aluminum foil-lined pan and then submerge your piece in this solution.
3. The result is an almost immediate dissolution of the tarnish thanks to an electrochemical reaction.

ref:https://www.invaluable.com/blog/how-to-clean-silver/

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/house/cleaning-silver-740663?offset=undefined

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/house/how-to-clean-silver-easily-16689326

Hi Missy, this is a simple chemical free way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P57DHWD6nrU

I use Wright's Silver Polish which works really well. It's got a little sponge inside the container so you can get in all the small spots.

Cleaning tarnished silver (even heavily tarnished pieces) can be achieved with a simple homemade solution, and you likely already have all the ingredients that you need. Cleaning silver with a combination of aluminum foil, baking soda, and salt does the trick for both small and large silver pieces. Try these easy techniques to clean tarnished silver and watch grime wash away before your eyes.

• Boiling water
• Aluminum foil
• Pan or pot
• Baking soda
• Kosher salt
• Soft cloth

1. Line a pot or roasting pan with aluminum foil. Make sure the foil covers the entire surface.
2. Fill the pan with boiling water.
3. Add 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to the water and stir. You should see bubbles form.
4. Place silver pieces in the solution and mix gently so that pieces don’t ram into one another or the sides of the pan.
5. Let sit for up to 5 minutes.
6. Once cool, remove and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Use your sink as a vessel for cleaning larger silver items, such as bulky trays, candlesticks, and serving dishes.

1. Line your sink with foil. Again, make sure to cover the entire surface, including the edges.
2. Pour boiling water into the sink. Use enough water so that your pieces will be fully submerged.
3. Add 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup salt to the water. Stir the mixture. Bubbles will form.
4. Place silver pieces in the solution.
5. Allow pieces to soak for up to 30 minutes.
6. Remove items when cool and dry them off with a soft cloth.

Your silver pieces should now be shinier and free of tarnish. They're all set to use or display proudly, and you'll never be left wondering how to clean silver again!

Vinager won’t work if you have a lot of silver were to clean take a large aluminum pan with sides lay aluminum foil on the bottom crinkle it up first the lay on the bottom then lay all the silver were on the bottom on the foil sprinkle all the silver were with baking soda then pour hot water from the stove over all of it leave sit in the water cover all the flat were .leave till clean about 1 to 2 hours depends on how much silver were.

Just mix a tablespoon each of baking soda and salt, with that add in one-half cup of white vinegar and a cup of boiling water. Pour the mixture in an aluminum foil-lined pan and just submerge your silver setting.

Faint tarnish can be knocked down with a clean soft cloth, warm water, and a very light detergent. A little bit of moderate rubbing should do the trick. If utter darkness has descended on your silver, then create a moonshine stew of salt, vinegar, baking soda and hot water.

If its real silver, I would use liquid Tarn-X you can dip it into to clean it.

I have a post on silver cleaning that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/silver-cleaning-hacks-15/

Soapy water won't clean tarnished silver. Toothpaste works well for small items like jewelry. If you have a lot to do, your best bet is just get silver tarnish remover. It works the best. Brings out the most shine in silver.

Use Silver cleaner from Shop/Store.

These are many ways to clean your silver, try one of these:

No more tarnishing with aluminum

Boil 4 cups of water, a tablespoon of baking soda, and some aluminum foil. Place silverware in for 10 seconds then remove with kitchen tongs.

Ketchup isn’t just for eating

Tarnished silver can be polished with ketchup using a paper towel – for silver that has crevices, use a toothbrush.

Kill two birds with one stone

When using Windex to clean your windows, spray some on a rag and use it to scrub your silver.

Brush your silver with toothpaste

Use circular motions to brush non-gel and non-abrasive toothpaste onto silver. Leave on for five minutes before washing off with water.

Use soda for tarnished silver

Fill a plastic bowl with lemon-lime soda and place slightly tarnished silver in it for one hour. Rinse and dry with a paper towel.