The invention relates to a metal silver cleaning and extracting method. The method comprises the following steps: acid solution containing Ce4+ and NO3- is mixed with a silver-contained material for leaching; after the leaching is finished, the solid-liquid separation is performed to obtain leaching liquid containing Ce3+ and Ag+; the leaching liquid is electrolyzed; an Ce3+ oxidation reaction isgenerated at an anode to realize Ce4+ regeneration; and a cathode is electrolyzed to reduce Ag+ to obtain metal silver. Ce4+ is used as a leaching agent and a medium oxidizing agent for circularly operating the solution leaching and the electrolytic regeneration on the silver-contained material; NOx and waste liquid are hardly generated in the extracting process to achieve cleanness and environmental protection; meanwhile, the voltage and the electric consumption needed by electrochemical reactions are reduced; and other chemical reagents are not consumed in the reaction process, so that the cost saving is facilitated. The method can prominently reduce the environmental influence and the production cost, and achieves excellent economic benefit and application prospect.