here's a recipe for super-effective silver polish. make sure your silver item doesn't have glue or anything that the hot water will damage - this recipe only works for all-silver objects:

• get a piece of aluminum foil the size of the item you wish to polish.
• put the aluminum foil in the bottom of a heat-safe bowl.
• put the item you wish to polish on top of the aluminum foil.
• boil some water.
• mix in some baking soda.
• pour the baking soda mixture into the bowl with your silver item.