Best Silver Polish

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Updated 11:35 pm

To help you choose the best silver polish available, we tried out dozens of varieties, testing for products that are easy to wipe-on and wipe-off and offer long-lasting protection to whatever you use it with. We also favored products that were strong enough for tough jobs, yet gentle enough for antiques and other delicate objects, offering value with large containers at lower-than-average price points. If you’re interested in more culinary accessories, then you need to visit our best kitchen products guide.

The best product we tried was easily Weiman Silver Polish and Cleaner, which exceeded expectations with everything we threw at it, including items that were stainless steel, silver, bronze and gold-plated, as well as antiques and niche objects, such as gemstones. The large ounce tube is reasonably priced and lasts a long time, thanks to needing just a dab for most jobs.

Top 7 Best Silver Polish Compared

 #1  Weiman Silver Polish and Cleaner

Award: Top Pick

WHY WE LIKE IT: Features a formula that is completely free of ammonia, making it perfect to clean and polish silver jewelry and precious gemstones, that also leaves a scratch-resistant coating that prevents future tarnish, and the product is also good for gold, copper, and aluminum, in addition to silver. This is a great ammonia-free polish that is perfect for those with plenty of jewelry.

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  • Prevents tarnish
  • Also good for gold, copper and aluminum
  • Easy to use, requiring just a cloth

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  • Not dippable
  • Not for chrome surfaces
  • There are larger items on this list

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Weiman Silver Polish and Cleaner is formulated without the use of ammonia, making it safe to use on gemstones and jewelry, in addition to excelling with silver, gold, copper, and aluminum. The product also leaves a scratch-resistant coating on whatever it is used on, preventing the formation of tarnish in the future. We also liked how easy it was to use to remove tarnish, needing just a small cloth as an applicator. You simply rub the polish directly onto tarnished silver using a soft cloth, then buff with a clean soft cloth for the perfect shine.

Related: Also see our best silicone pastry mats.

Though this product is great for cloth-based cleaning, it is not intended to be used as a dipping agent, which may make cleaning smaller items somewhat tedious. Additionally, this product can handle a large variety of metals, but cannot be used with chrome. Speaking of metals, check out the best microwaves. And make sure you avoid using the best baby wipes to clean any of the aforementioned, as they’re only for humans.

 #2  Maas Metal Polish

Award: Honorable Mention

WHY WE LIKE IT: Easily handles just about any metal, especially excelling with silver, with an easy-to-use tube design that needs just a small dab to clean a large amount of surface area. This is a great all-purpose polish that is suitable for most metals.

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  • Cleans most metals
  • Just a dab cleans large surface area
  • Long-lasting protection, via anti-tarnish corrosion inhibitor

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  • Lavender scent could be off putting to some
  • There are larger containers on list
  • Should not be used on musical instruments

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Maas Metal Polish is a fantastic product that excelled with everything we threw at it, easily cleaning silver, bronze, stainless steel, copper and gold-plating. It is concentrated, so a small dab is adequate to clean a large surface area and the product features an anti-tarnish corrosion inhibitor, which keeps items clean for long periods of time. It is also gentle enough for antiques and other fragile objects.

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Though this item is concentrated, the four ounce tube is on the smaller end, compared to other items on this list. Additionally, the product features a fairly bold lavender scent, which may not be suitable for some folks. It will polish up the best stainless steel microwave.

 #3  Goddard’s Silver Care Liquid Dip Polish

Award: Best Silver Polish for Jewelry

WHY WE LIKE IT: Allows items to be directly placed in the solution, helping to clean difficult-to-reach areas like between fork tines, coming in a large ten ounce container that is made in the USA and certified Kosher. This is a great product for small items like sterling silver jewelry that can be directly placed in the solution.

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  • Great for small items
  • Large ten ounce container
  • Certified Kosher

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  • Not great for large items
  • Ideally suited for silver, but not for other metals
  • Strong solution, so be careful not to allow items to sit for long

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Goddard’s Silver Care Liquid Dip comes in a large ten ounce tube that opens from the top, allowing objects to be directly placed in the container for easy cleaning. This gives users a hassle-free option to clean difficult-to-reach areas, such as fork tines. The certified Kosher product not only cleans, but adds a tarnish-free barrier to objects, so you can be sure they’ll remain clean for the foreseeable future.

Though this product excels with objects that can be dipped in the solution, this is not an option for larger-than-average items, though it can still clean the old fashioned way, via cotton swab. Just swab it with the silver dip using a cotton ball, then hand wash and rinse the object in warm water, and dry it with a soft cloth. Additionally, the product is ideally suited for sterling silver and may not be the best choice for other metals. Speaking of the best choice, have a look at the best air fryer.

 #4  Goddards Silver Polisher

Award: Best Value

WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts a great features to price ratio, as a six ounce tube comes in at a relatively low price point, with long-lasting cleaning capabilities with nearly any silver product, big or small. This is a great product for those looking for maximum cleaning power with a minimum price tag.

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  • Easy application
  • Foam leaves tarnish-resistant barrier
  • Just a dab cleans large surface area

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  • Ideally suited for silver, but not for other metals
  • There are larger items on list
  • Small applicator, could be tedious to clean big items

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Goddards Silver Polisher comes in a fairly large tube, six ounces, while being sold at a relatively low price point. The product boasts an extremely easy application, requiring users to dip the included applicator in the solution and then gently rub whatever item needs cleaning. The cleaning foam creates a tarnish-resistant barrier, contributing to long-lasting cleanliness, and a small dab can clean a large surface area, upping the value even more.

This product is specially designed to clean silver and it is not suited to clean other metals, though results may vary. Additionally, though this is a great price for a six ounce tube, there are larger-capacity products on this list, if you are in the need to clean a multitude of silver items. It will even clean the best electric kettle as some have stainless steel.

 #5  Cape Cod Polish Co. Metal Polishing Cloths

Award: Best Silver Polishing Gloves

WHY WE LIKE IT: Package contains 12 moist cloths, one buffing cloth and a pair of reusable gloves, making this product extremely safe to use, with the option to purchase related accessories, including a horsehair brush, and a formula that excels with brass, in addition to silver. This is just an ultra-safe product to use, thanks to the inclusion of safety gloves.

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  • Plenty of accessories
  • Fantastic for brass, in addition to silver
  • Non-abrasive formula eliminates tarnish

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  • Price is on high side
  • Packaging issue can waste cloths
  • Not for gold

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These Cape Cod Polish Co. Metal Polishing Cloths come with a pair of reusable safety gloves, so you won’t have to actually touch a cleaning agent with bare hands, not to mention a tin stuffed with 12 moist cloths and one buffing microfiber cloth, with the option to purchase additional accessories, such as a horsehair brush. This product truly shines on both silver and brass, easily wiping away years of tarnish with its patented non-abrasive formula, so the risk of accruing damage is low.

We did run into a slight packaging issue, however, with the 12 moist cloths divided into individually wrapped packs of six, so if you just want one, the second of the pair will dry out. Additionally, this product is not for use with gold. You may want to also read about the best masticating juicer for your kitchen too.

 #6  Wright’s Silver Cleaner and Polish Cream

Award: Best for Unique Surfaces

WHY WE LIKE IT: Excels with silver, in addition to unique surfaces, such as pewter, porcelain and chrome, with the inclusion of a sponge and polishing cloth and a formula that prevents tarnish from forming in the future, in addition to cleaning built-up residue. This is a great product if you find yourself needing to polish items made of porcelain and chrome, in addition to silver.

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  • Comes with sponge
  • Creates layer that prevents future tarnish build-up
  • Container design allows small items to be quickly dipped

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  • Not for gold
  • Takes some elbow grease to work
  • Should not be used on musical instruments

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Wright’s Silver Cleaner and Polish Cream is great for silver of all stripes but also shines with a wide variety of unique surfaces, including pewter, porcelain and chrome, among others. The package comes with a sponge and a reusable cloth, making it a great starter’s pack, and the formula creates a film on items, preventing future tarnish, which is in line with several other products on this list.

Though this polish is great for silver, and the aforementioned unique surfaces, it does not do so well with gold, as it could end up accruing some damage. Additionally, it does take a bit of elbow grease to work, though it will certainly do a fantastic job after some serious rubbing. It should help clean the best digital pocket scale as well.

 #7  Hagerty Mild Silver Polish

Award: Best for Gold

WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts a formula that is calculated to excel with gold, in addition to silver, with a dual-action design that cleans and polishes at the same time, without the use of any harsh ingredients, making this mild product perfect for fragile pieces. This is a great polish that shines with both gold and silver.

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  • No harsh ingredients
  • Polishes and cleans at same time
  • Mild formula great for fragile items

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  • Not for chrome, porcelain etc.
  • Does not come with sponge or cloth
  • Item was extremely full, causing light spillage

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Hagerty Mild Silver Polish features a formulation that shines equally with gold or silver items, making it extremely useful, with a design that polishes and cleans at the same time that is free of harsh ingredients, like ammonia, making it safe to use with small, fragile trinkets. It boasts no odor whatsoever, which is nice, and did its job without a heavy degree of elbow grease, effortlessly removing tarnish and blemishes.

Though the product excels with both gold and silver, it is not intended for use with unique surfaces, such as chrome, porcelain or pewter. Additionally, the item we received was filled to the brim, so be careful when you first open it, lest you may cause a light spill. Have you read about the best knife brands?

How We Decided

To help narrow down to the above list of silver polishes and silver cleaners, we tried out dozens of products, making sure that they not only excelled with the polishing of silver, but with other metals as well, including gold, brass and copper. Additionally, we made sure to choose a couple of products that easily handled unique surfaces, such as pewter, porcelain and chrome. We also wanted to make sure plenty of the above products kept objects tarnish-free for long periods of time, via the adding of protective layers.

We spent a lot of our time trying out each product on a wide assortment of knickknacks, testing for ease of use, favoring polishes that came with cloth and sponges packed in, so as to simplify the whole process. We also made sure to include a mix of application choices, from standard cloth-based products to large tubs that are appropriate for dipping items into.

We also wanted to make sure each item was safe to use, free from foul odors, and manufactured without the use of harmful ingredients. Finally, we placed an emphasis on efficiency, favoring products with concentrated formulas, cleaning and polishing items with just a dab or two. It should clean kitchen gadgets with ease.

Silver Polish Buying Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Application Process
    These products feature a wide variety of application options. Some items have you squeeze a small dab to a soft cloth or sponge before wiping items down. Others allow small objects to actually be placed in a tub of the product itself, which can be really convenient. Take a look at what you need to get polished and decide what application process is right for you. To clean heavily tarnished silver, you may need to first wash them in a strong detergent to get rid of the grease. Polishes cannot cut through grease since they’re water-soluble.
  2. Other Uses
    Though the above products are primarily intended to be used with silver, many polishes boast dual-use functionalities, excelling with metals like gold, brass and copper. Additionally, other products can be used with unique surfaces, such as chrome, pewter and porcelain. Pick the polish that best suits your present, and future, needs.
  3. Safe Ingredients
    Modern polishes are typically manufactured using safe ingredients, but you should still do some homework. Every item on our list passes this threshold, with many being completely free of ammonia, in addition to a myriad of harmful chemicals. We also made sure that none of the above products featured foul or off putting odors, which was often a problem in the past.

Silver Polish FAQs

Can cleaning silver items with baking soda cause damage?

Some experts caution against using baking soda with antique silver items, as it can be too abrasive and ruin the finish. These same experts recommend a product manufactured for use with silver items, like the ones featured on our list.

How can you tell if something is solid silver or silver-plated?

If you do not see the sterling marking, the item is probably silver-plated. Check the coloring of the item carefully. Genuine silver is generally less shiny and colder in tone than silver-plate. If you see places where the silver appears to be flaking off or turning green, the item is likely silver-plated.

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