Keeping Your Silver Sparkling
There are many products on the market that will remove tarnish. We tested a cream cleanser and a spray cleanser to see which
resulted in the best shine with minimal effort.
We started with the spray. This must be done in a well-ventilated area because the fumes are pretty strong. Working in sections, we applied the cleanser, and using cotton gloves, we buffed the items to a shine. It took a little elbow grease, but after a quick rinse, we were pleased with the results.
With the rest of our silver, we used the cream solution. Using a sponge that came with the cleanser, we applied a small amount to the leftover pieces. We repeated the steps, then rinsed the silver with warm water. Once thoroughly dried, we compared our two methods. While pleased with both results, we preferred the final look from the cream cleanser.
You may be tempted to settle for a dip method of cleaning, but both commercial and homemade recipes are often considered too aggressive. The solution will remove the tarnish in the crevices and intricately detailed areas that add character to silver.
Every time you polish, abrasives take a thin layer of the surface off of silver. Repeated polishing or cleaning with chemicals will gradually eat away at the plating, surface decoration, engraving, and monograms.
Storage Solutions
Tarnish is caused by sulfur in the environment. Actually, the tarnish isn't harmful to silver at all, aggressive polishing
is. To slow down the tarnish, keep your silver wrapped in silver cloth or in a zip-top plastic bag. For larger pieces, use
a dry-cleaning bag; let out the air, and tie both ends.
Silver cloth is available at jewelers and fabric stores and is filled with compounds that absorb sulfur gases. The cloth will lose the compounds over time; washing and reusing it is not advised.
Flea Market Finds
Who knows what treasures are out there? At flea markets they often pile random pieces in large plastic tubs. Whether you're
looking for an odd serving piece or a napkin ring with your initials, collecting silver can become a fun hobby.
"ABCs of Silver" is from the November 2003 issue of Southern Living.
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