The Best Way To Clean Silver

Whether you inherited silver on your wedding day or recently bought some silver for

a special occasion, it is smart to learn how to take care of it so these timeless accessories last a lifetime. It doesn't matter if you have antique silverware or a modern table setting or silver jewelry, you need to protect your investment. While tarnish on silver is inevitable to some degree, there are several strategies that help to decrease the likelihood and severity of corrosion.

What Is Tarnish?:

Tarnish is mostly caused by certain sulfur compounds found naturally in the earth's elements like water and air, as well as in carbon dioxide (from exhaust emissions), certain foods, and other sources. Although some darker or "oxidized" areas on silver may be there intentionally to highlight a pattern, you can use a cotton swab while cleaning to reach difficult-to-reach places. Despite popular convention, standard jewelry cleaners will remove dirt, dust and oils from silver but they will not remove tarnish or shine silver. Good silver polish not only removes tarnish from all types of silver, it also removes tarnish from pewter, chrome, porcelain, fiberglass, white leather sneakers, golf clubs, belt buckles and even the chrome on automobiles.

Certain foods, like eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, citrus fruits, olives and salt, accelerate tarnish. If serving these types of foods from silver serving dishes, you should immediately rinse the silver when you are done and finish by cleaning with dish soap and water. You should not, however, soak silver for prolonged periods of time.

General Tips for Cleaning Silver:

The best way to care for silver and keep it shining longer is to clean it frequently by hand. If silver is cleaned frequently and properly with the right products, it will develop and keep the glowing patina and soft luster that defines it. If you use and wash your silverware regularly, it should be polished a few times per year with silver polish. It is easy to tell when to polish silver: when the item begins turning a light, gold color. Silver should not come into contact with certain metals like aluminum and stainless steel because an adverse reaction between the metals can damage silver.

When cleaning silver, do not use bleach, rough sponges, steel wool or abrasive cleaners that may scratch or damage silver. Silver should always be washed by hand and should never be cleaned in a dishwasher.

When storing silver, it is important to keep it away from air, moisture and heat to help prevent spotting and delay tarnish formation. The ideal way to store silver is to wrap polished silver in a soft cloth or tissue paper then place it into an airtight drawer or chest.

by: Libby Gerberi

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