The Kitchen Essential That Breathes New Life Into Dull Silverware

It's inevitable for your stainless steel flatware to lose its shine when subjected to mineral deposits, grease, and water stains almost all the time. Constant friction and rubbing against other utensils also scratches them, leaving behind tiny grooves that trap dirt and grime. Martha Stewart's go-to solution to prevent silverware tarnishing is washing them by hand instead of tossing them in the dishwasher. But this is only mostly useful if your silver is still new and hasn't seen better days. For those of us who received sterling silverware pieces as a family heirloom, the task of reviving their shine can be grueling. Sure, there are professional-grade cleaners and polishes available on the market, but not all of them are effective at this job. If you want something less aggressive and more organic, you should consider using cream of tartar to breathe new life into your dull silverware.

In case you don't know it yet, cream of tartar has many uses around the house, from deterring ants to brightening tile grout lines. However, it also works especially well for eliminating cloudy buildups forming on stainless steel surfaces over time. Cream of tartar — also called potassium bitartrate — is mildly acidic and gently abrasive due to its tartaric acid component. These properties make it useful for cleaning and polishing flatware, including silverware from thrift stores or those hand-me-downs that have already lost their luster and developed a rather dull appearance. Its acidity allows it to dissolve water stains and mineral deposits on silver utensils that make them cloudy.

Carrying out this hack is as simple as sprinkling this white, powdery compound onto a damp microfiber towel and using it to buff out spots and streaks on the flatware. Finish by rinsing your stainless steel utensils in warm water and hand-drying them. You'll be surprised to see your good old silverware looking brand new afterward.

The cream of tartar's powdery texture enables it to act as a soft abrasive, so all dirt residues can be polished away without causing more scratching on the surface. Using a microfiber cloth with the compound also makes it easy to grab any loosened particles, preventing streaks from forming. Compared to harsher, commercially available metal polishes, cream of tartar doesn't leave a greasy film or a strong odor, so you are welcome to use your utensils once they have dried. Do note, however, that this hack is only for shine restoration and maintenance; it's not a good idea to use it all the time to clean your silver due to the compound's abrasive properties.