Mr Town Talk Top Tips
Silver
Never put stainless steel and silver cutlery in the dishwasher at the same time. If you do, your silver cutlery will turn black!
Believe it or not, silver is surprisingly soft. Every time a tarnished item is cleaned, a minute layer of silver is removed. When you’re cleaning something fine, it’s important not to rub too fiercely.
Under no circumstances should you ever let your silverware come into contact with bleach. It will leave a permanent, ugly stain that you’ll never see the back of.
Avoid storing silver on wooden surfaces as the wood often contains acids that react to the metal.
You’ll often find it’s only the tines, or prongs of your forks that become tarnished. But, if you dip the tines into my Silver Cutlery Rinse for just a moment or two, then buff them up with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths, you’ll get a wonderful result.
My advice is never clean silver with scouring powder. Its abrasive quality will always leave smooth surfaces covered in scratches which are hard to obliterate.
Never allow silverware to come into contact with dishwasher detergents. It will be instantly covered in black spots, which are terribly hard to remove.
Always protect your working surfaces before you begin each task, and read any cautions which are included on our packs.
If you’re working on a bench or table, I suggest you cover the work surface to prevent damage from any over-spray.
Never put silver in the dishwasher; it’s a soft metal that’s easily scratched or damaged and can be tarnished by other metals.
When it’s properly maintained, silver improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly, and it will reward you with a life-long lustrous look.
Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.
When you’re drying silver, do not use brand-new linen cloths; the starch in them is often too abrasive.
Always dry silver cutlery immediately after washing it. If you don’t, it will almost certainly develop water stains.
Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.
To remove wax from candlesticks, first leave the sticks in a warm room to soften the wax, then carefully pick out the wax with a blunt cocktail stick. Never use a knife, which could damage the silver.
To prevent the staining caused by foods such as salt, eggs, peas, olives and salad dressings, always rinse your silver cutlery as soon as possible after each use.
Whenever you’re cleaning silverware with a spray polish, always cover the surface you’re going to work on with old newspapers, to protect it. A simple point, but one that’s worth remembering!
Despite their warmth and comfort, open coal and gas fires aren’t kind to silverware. They give off hydrogen sulphide, which tarnishes anything made of silver. Best to keep the two apart!
Since time immemorial, the acids present in a number of foods have had a nasty habit of pitting silverware. Cutlery and salt cellars are particularly vulnerable. I recommend you always wash and rinse such items immediately after use.
Opaque gems are often set in silver. Do take care to avoid getting the silver polish on the stones. Remember: if in doubt, seek professional help.
An old, soft toothbrush is excellent for getting into the nooks and crannies of intricate jewellery and silverwork. I’ve found that cotton buds do a good job, too!
Remember: always take off your silver jewellery before going swimming or getting into a hot tub!
Fine pieces of jewellery should be polished with a new, clean cloth each time as an old cloth may contain tiny pieces of dirt, which could scratch the jewels. The cost of replacing your cloth is far less than having your jewellery professionally re-polished. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.
When you’re polishing fine silver, always use a gentle, circular motion. This will help preserve the delicate surface of the soft metal.
For the very best results I recommend you use my Silver Sparkle in conjunction with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths.
