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Tips for Easy Living with Your Silver

You can cut the cleaning time of your silver significantly by following these simple suggestions:

• Use a quality silver polish containing a tarnish preventive ingredient, such as Goddard’s.  The preventive ingredient slows down the tarnishing process so your silver will stay clean longer.
• Use Goddard’s Silver Dip for the tips of fork tines and other stubborn stains (it is important to use this sparingly as it is a very strong cleaner).
• For your sideboard, coffee table and other display silver, use Silver Polishing Gloves or Cloths during the weekly dusting. They contain cleaners and tarnish preventives so you really can go months without getting out the polish.
• Silver in cabinets and cases will stay sparkling for 12-24 months if you use camphor blocks or Hagerty Protection Strips.

• FOR HEAVILY TARNISHED SILVER: First wash the items in a strong detergent to degrease them. (Polishes are water-soluble and can't cut through grease). Next, line your sink (or bath tub for large pieces) with aluminum foil.  Fill with hot water, add a handful of WASHING soda (not baking soda) and make sure it is fully dissolved. Place your silver on the foil - each piece must have direct contact - and leave for 1 or 2 minutes. Repeat if necessary but do not leave the silver in for longer than a couple of minutes at one time.  Your silver should come out dull but clean (completely black silver will turn to yellow or brown).

  To restore the lustre, apply some polish with a damp sponge or soft cloth (never paper towels - they'll scratch). Let polish dry. Wipe off with damp sponge, soft cloth or even under running water and your silver will be gleaming – with minimal elbow grease needed.

  The same effect can be achieved with Goddard’s Silver Dip which is convenient for small articles.

  Please note: this process will vastly reduce cleaning time for highly tarnished silver but we do not recommend it for regular cleaning or for Antique silver as it may affect the patina.

• Dishwashers are not recommended (particularly for Antique silver) but if you can’t live without the convenience here are a couple of suggestions: use a liquid soap with no chlorine bleach and avoid putting sterling and stainless together on the rack.  Remove your flatware before the heated drying cycle and dry by hand if possible.
• For long term storage you should make sure your silver is clean and dry. Then pack it in clean tissue or cloth and put it inside a sealed plastic bag.

Living with silver should be enjoyable, even fun. The smallest piece can add a touch of luxury to everyday life, a sparkle to the dullest day. However, if the time comes to downsize or you wish to winnow out and upgrade, do remember J.H. Tee Antiques buys silver as well as sells it.