With proper care your silver will stay as beautiful and precious as the day you received it and will become a valued heirloom that can be enjoyed for generations. Below are some recommendations to help you keep your jewelry bright and tarnish-free.
Humidity and chemicals in the air cause silver to tarnish. The most common tarnish causing elements are food, salt, wool, felt, rubber bands, latex gloves, sulfur in the air, and oily residue from our hands and fingers.
Tarnish can be minimized during storage. Place individual pieces of silver inside polyethylene plastic bags and seal the bags with anti-tarnish properties or in a zip-lock bag with a non-tarnish strip. See our Earrings and more area for these products.
Plastic cling wrap, newspaper or rubber bands. They have properties that react with silver, causing damage that will require a silversmith to repair or polish it to remove the damage. Cardboard boxes that aren't archival also have acids that will tarnish silver rapidly.
Also never use lacquer or wax on your silver because it is difficult to obtain an even coating. Many times, if the coating has not been applied well, it may appear uneven or have streaks and/or small holes so that when the object tarnishes, the end result is many times worse than if no coating had been applied.
And remember to apply your hairspray and perfume BEFORE putting on any jewelry.
These cleaning tips and hints are for the general public interested in maintaining the majority of personal silver. Items that are silver or gold-plated need the same type of care. Museum conservators use a different method requiring special chemicals, hours of time and special expertise. Remember, the easiest way to keep your silver cleaning to a minimum is to store it properly.
If there is no tarnish on your silver, use a phosphate-free detergent to clean it after use. Silver that is used and then gently washed and dried immediately will seldom require tarnish removal.
When first noticed (usually a yellowish-brownish tint), tarnish is easily removed. It becomes increasingly difficult to remove as it turns to black. Frequent light cleanings (washing the object with a phosphate-free dish-washing detergent) and drying with a soft cloth is better than waiting until the tarnish gets so difficult to remove that more abrasive polishes are needed.
When polishing or drying, always use a clean, soft cotton cloth. Certain items may require a clean soft cotton ball.
Rub the object in a straight, back-an-forth manner so to maintain a uniform appearance. Avoid rubbing in a circular motion.
These items can be found in your local jewelry shop, department store, hardware store, pharmacy, general store or listed distributors:?
1. 3M's Tarni-Shield™ Silver Polish and Twinkle® Silver Polish are the least abrasive of the commercial cleaners. Tarni-Shield seems to have a more effective tarnish barrier than Twinkle.
2. Haggerty® Silversmiths® Spray Polish is particularly good for fine work, filigree, intricate designs and hard to reach spots.
3. Goddard’s™ Long Shine Silver Polish and Silver Wash iseant to be applied, allow to dry, and then buffed and polished off.
For pieces that have been dulled by heavy tarnish, use a rouge cloth to restore the original luster. The rouge cloth contains a polishing agent, normally rouge. You can use untreated, heavyweight cotton inspection gloves (remember - never use rubber gloves with silver) to avoid finger prints when cleaning and storing your freshly cleaned objects. After using, if you prefer not to apply a tarnish protectant, wash all silver by hand with a phosphate-free dish-washing detergent and warm water then dry immediately with a Selvyt™ cloth or cotton dish towel. Try not to allow silver to touch a metal sink, as the sink itself can scratch.
If the choice is between a polish that protects better but is more abrasive, and one that does not protect as well but is far less abrasive, go with the less abrasive polish. Polishes that are meant to be washed off are less abrasive because they use a liquid to suspend the polishing ingredients.?
Toothpaste, ever, as a silver polish. Many toothpaste ingredients, even in trace amounts, may cause serious damage. Only use silver polishes.
Never use polishes that have dried-up (the abrasive particles are now much too concentrated and will harm your silver), don't use steel wool, Scotch-Brite™ or any type of scouring pads (too abrasive), or chemical dips (too toxic).
Also, store your jewelry away from bright lights/heat.
Just remember, silver is the most reflective metal, and enjoys a high polish! It is also an extremely soft metal, and may scratch or dent easily. Some find this "Patina" part of its allure.
