No, toothpaste doesn't whiten silver in the sense of making it brighter or lighter in color. Instead, toothpaste cleans silver by removing tarnish, which is a dark film that dulls the surface. This cleaning action can restore the silver's natural shine, making it appear brighter.
How Toothpaste Cleans Silver
Toothpaste, specifically non-gel and non-abrasive varieties, contains mild abrasives that gently scrub away the tarnish layer on silver. This process is similar to how it cleans teeth. The abrasive particles polish the silver, revealing the brighter metal underneath.
Several sources confirm this cleaning method:
- Reddit: A user on r/jewelry confirms toothpaste works well for cleaning silver, but requires manual rubbing. (https://www.reddit.com/r/jewelry/comments/1c3xopq/toothpaste_to_clean_silver/)
- Apartment Therapy: This website details how to use toothpaste to polish silver, emphasizing the amount to use. (https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-polish-silver-with-toothpaste-210817)
- The Happy House Cleaning: This site recommends using toothpaste to polish silver, leaving it for 5 minutes before rinsing. (https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/11-wonderful-and-easy-tricks-to-clean-silver-at-home/)
- WikiHow: This resource details the method but cautions that toothpaste's abrasiveness can damage silver if used improperly. (https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Toothpaste-to-Clean-Silver-Jewelry)
Important Note: While effective for cleaning, the abrasiveness of toothpaste, even non-abrasive kinds, can scratch delicate silver items if not used carefully. Always use a soft cloth and gentle circular motions.
In short: Toothpaste doesn't whiten silver, but it effectively cleans and polishes it, restoring its shine by removing tarnish.
