The complete guide
Why silver tarnishes and how ultrasonic cleaning actually helps
Silver tarnishes through a chemical reaction with sulphur compounds in the air, not through dirt in the everyday sense, which is why polishing cloths and ultrasonic cleaning work differently than they do on other metals. Ultrasonic cavitation doesn't dissolve tarnish chemically; it mechanically loosens the surface layer so it lifts away in the water, which is gentler on the metal than abrasive polishing but won't fully restore a piece with very heavy, years-old tarnish in a single cycle. For jewellery that's cleaned regularly, ultrasonic treatment keeps tarnish from building up in the first place, which is generally more effective than occasional deep intervention.