Whether your silver item is a wedding gift, family heirloom, or part of a collection, knowing how to care for it is your main priority. The sparkle of clear silver adds richness to the room, and can beatify any occasion. Silver is meant to be used, and family celebrations, important guests, or simply a romantic dinner for two will be much enhanced by your well cared for possessions.
Many people shy away from silver over the mistaken impression that much work is involved in its care. What a pity! Once you know how to clean and store your silver, you will discover that no more than a few minutes are needed to keep it looking fresh and brilliant!
Silvers main adversary is humidity. This is the main cause of tarnish which dulls its surface. Since moisture in the environment is not something easily avoided, care must be given to correct storage. Display pieces are best kept in a cabinet behind glass doors. If you live in an area with low humidity, this is often enough to prevent constant tarnishing. If humidity is high, special anti-tarnish cloths or paper strips may be needed. Containing activated carbon or silver salts, these slow the tarnishing process and help keep the moisture from reaching your silver. These may be purchased at jewelry stores, or any specialty store which sells sterling silver.
Special flannel bags are also available for storing silverware or pieces not intended for public display. Another option is wrapping each piece of silverware in acid-free tissue paper and keeping them in airtight plastic bags.
Sulfur is another element which will cause tarnishing. Eggs, onions and other sulfur-rich foods will blacken your silverware very quickly. Wool, felt, chamois leather, newspaper and velvet are also culprits which may cause tarnishing.
Regardless of how well you store your silver, tarnish is an inevitable by-product. How often you will need to polish depends, but the cleaning itself is not difficult or too time consuming:
Initial Cleaning
Because silver is a soft metal, never use abrasive cloths or chemicals. With a soft rag, gently wipe your silver product in order to remove any dust. If wax build-up is a problem, hold under hot water and allow the wax to soften and melt off. Never try removing dirt or building up with a knife or any other sharp or abrasive object. Dry with a soft cloth.
Polishing
Wear plastic gloves to polish the silver, as rubber and latex also create tarnish. Polishing pastes work very well, and do not scratch the surface or damage the silver. Follow the instructions on the bottle for exact directions. For most, apply the paste to the silver piece, gently rubbing into all areas. With a clean rag, wipe off until all traces of the cleaner are gone. A cotton swab may be useful for removal in hard to reach areas or spots with intricate design.
Washing
Rinse with a mild dish soap and warm water to remove all remaining traces of polish. Once again, dry with a soft cloth. A blow-dryer can be helpful drying hard to reach places.
So regardless of whether your silver is new in the box or an heirloom from great grandma Bertha, with simple care, it will be yours to enjoy and someday pass on to your own descendants!
