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Caring for Silver

The butler did it. No, I'm not talking about the guilty party in some British whodunit but the one who used to polish silver in the days of household servants, pocket watches, and horses and buggies.

Guess who polishes the silver now? That's right-you. Along with chauffeuring the kids to soccer practice, working full time, and fixing dinner, there's another chore to do.

Whether you have a few pieces or a sideboard full, here are some suggestions on how to clean and polish your silver, as well as tips on how to safely store it so you don't have to polish any more than absolutely necessary.

Cleaning

Wash your silver by hand, never in the dishwasher. The detergent can cause scratching, and the high heat can damage hollow-handled knives. Because many foods, especially salty or acidic ones, can tarnish or stain silver, at least rinse your silver immediately after use if you won't be able to wash it right away.

Rubber causes silver to tarnish, so never wear rubber gloves while washing or polishing it.

To avoid scratching, wash each piece separately with a mild liquid detergent and a soft washcloth. Do not use a plastic or metal scrubber. It's a good idea to line the bottom of the sink with a kitchen towel to prevent scratching or denting if you drop a piece. Dry each piece immediately with a soft towel to prevent water spots.

Polishing

The black layer of tarnish that often forms on silverware is not harmful to the silver. What can be harmful is overly aggressive polishing. This can wear away fine detail or engraving. In the case of silver-plated pieces, you can actually polish through the thin layer of silver, exposing the base metal.

The best way to polish silver is with a mild abrasive silver polish and a clean cotton cloth or cotton ball. Use a small amount of polish and turn the cloth or cotton ball frequently as it becomes covered with tarnish. Wear cotton gloves to avoid getting skin oils on the silver. Rinse with water to remove all traces of polish. Gently dry with a soft cloth.

For occasional light polishing, you can use a jeweler's cloth (also called rouge cloth) or a pair of special cotton polishing gloves.

Silver dips, either commercial products or homemade recipes, are often considered too aggressive. Besides, dips will remove the tarnish in crevices and intricately detailed areas that give a piece its rich look. Hand-polishing is safer for silver and requires very little extra effort. Louis Joyner

SILVER STORAGE

Proper storage should protect the silver from physical damage such as scratches and dents, as well as from tarnishing.

* Wrap silver pieces in a special tarnish-inhibiting material such as Pacific Silvercloth or Hagerty's Tarnish Preventing Silversmith's Cloth.

a Specially designed cloth bags and rolls are available for silver storage. Made from tarnishinhibiting cloth, these also protect silver from scratches.

* Polyethylene or polyester plastic bags (turkey-roasting bags) provide a safe outer wrapping to help keep moisture and air away from the silver. Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.

* Because high humidity promotes tarnishing, don't store your silver in damp locations such as the basement.

* Avoid the attic. Heat can damage silver, especially hollowhandled knives, which are often filled with pitch.

* Silver should be washed before storing, but polishing is not always necessary. a Silver salt shakers should be emptied and cleaned after each use to avoid corrosion.

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Page 138: Pacific Silvercloth bags and drawer liners are from Eureka Manufacturing Company (M), 1-800-3768209; Hagerty Silver Keepers storage bags from W. J. Hagerty & Sons, Ltd. (M), 1-800-348-5162.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 1998
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