topic Re: Cleaning Silver in Home

Cleaning Silver

drizzellla — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:07:30 GMT

I am purging. After all the gifts from Christmas - I have no other option.

I came across a silverplated serving bowl. It was my Mom's and I will never use it.

I cleaned most of the tarnish off. But there are a few tiny spots that are still dark. Do I try other silver polish to get the dark spots clean? Or just leave it as is? I am donating it. And I don't know alot about polishing silver. Besides my Mom making me polish the silverware before special meals.

Do certain polishes damage the silver?

Re: Cleaning Silver

phoenixbrd — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:42:29 GMT

@drizzellla Since you are donating I would stop at it being clean leaving it at that. I respect that it is your mother's and you recognize that you don't use so you are willing to donate. My mother left me Grand Baroque sterling service and I haven't done a thing with it....just not my style. I need to consider how I'm going to release, thanks for the reminder since 2018 is my year for release and change.

Re: Cleaning Silver

Snowpuppy — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:49:31 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@drizzellla Since you are donating I would stop at it being clean leaving it at that. I respect that it is your mother's and you recognize that you don't use so you are willing to donate. My mother left me Grand Baroque sterling service and I haven't done a thing with it....just not my style. I need to consider how I'm going to release, thanks for the reminder since 2018 is my year for release and change.

OMG, how to release Grand Baroque? It's the most sought after pattern, probably surpassing Michaelangelo.

If you need to let it go, I truly understand. Let it grace someone else's table.

Release it on the bay and pocket the proceeds.

Re: Cleaning Silver

queendiva — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 06:33:30 GMT

Best cleaner for silver and silver plate: Bio Cleaner. V33262

Re: Cleaning Silver

NycVixen — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 06:58:24 GMT

Wow! I just looked up a Grand Baroque set on eBay and it's gorgeous! I love it. I never considered having a sterling silver set but this is out of this world. I would definitely reconsider letting it go. I find that sometimes we don't tend to appreciate the things we already have.

From my eyes, that set not only absolutely beautiful but well made. It's on my short list of things to acquire once I have a new home. It's pricey but it's one of a kind. They don't make things the way they used to. A 32 pc 8 place setting estate set is $1,249 on the bay.

I use the baking soda, water and aluminum foil trick to clean silver. White vinegar is also used but I never have. The water is heated almost to boiling and placed in a container large enough to cover the items. You add the aluminum foil and slowly place the baking soda on top. Add the items you wish to clean. In a couple minutes, the chemical reaction will transfer the tarnish from the silver to the foil. You need to make sure the items to be cleaned touch the foil.

Re: Cleaning Silver

queendiva — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 06:45:16 GMT

@phoenixbrd: I just looked up the pattern. Gorgeous! And Valuable. Full set of 12 plus storage box: over $14,000.00 at NM!! Very ornate; clearly not everyone's style or decor, but...

Maybe you can look into selling it to replacements.com? Or now that you know the retail value, you might like it better?

Not sure who really buys sterling flatware anymore. Got my place settings as wedding gifts from in-laws friends over 30 years ago, I really only use it on Christmas Eve and maybe one other meal per year.

Re: Cleaning Silver

phoenixbrd — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 08:50:04 GMT

@queendiva Thanks for your research. I've always been aware of the value. My father bought it for my mother early on in their marriage. It brings back childhood memories, so I've kept for sentimental reasons but really not my style. I'm dedicated to downsizing so maybe I'll check out Replacements, but most likely it will continue to sit. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Re: Cleaning Silver

CelticCrafter — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:13:02 GMT

If you are donating it, I would leave it as is and tell myself it's as clean as it's going to get.

It's been my experience with silverplate that after a while it just doesn't come clean or shine anymore and takes on a gray hue.

Re: Cleaning Silver

jackthebear — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 13:30:28 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@drizzellla Since you are donating I would stop at it being clean leaving it at that. I respect that it is your mother's and you recognize that you don't use so you are willing to donate. My mother left me Grand Baroque sterling service and I haven't done a thing with it....just not my style. I need to consider how I'm going to release, thanks for the reminder since 2018 is my year for release and change.

I have 6 place setting of that that were my mother in law's as well as 12 of my pattern.

when I got married I picked something simpler and now I like the GB but I mix them together. You should try to sell it

Re: Cleaning Silver

jackthebear — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 13:31:06 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I am purging. After all the gifts from Christmas - I have no other option.

I came across a silverplated serving bowl. It was my Mom's and I will never use it.

I cleaned most of the tarnish off. But there are a few tiny spots that are still dark. Do I try other silver polish to get the dark spots clean? Or just leave it as is? I am donating it. And I don't know alot about polishing silver. Besides my Mom making me polish the silverware before special meals.

Do certain polishes damage the silver?

be careful with silverplate, the dips can damage the plating

Re: Cleaning Silver

drizzellla — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:02:58 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
I am purging. After all the gifts from Christmas - I have no other option.

I came across a silverplated serving bowl. It was my Mom's and I will never use it.

I cleaned most of the tarnish off. But there are a few tiny spots that are still dark. Do I try other silver polish to get the dark spots clean? Or just leave it as is? I am donating it. And I don't know alot about polishing silver. Besides my Mom making me polish the silverware before special meals.

Do certain polishes damage the silver?

be careful with silverplate, the dips can damage the plating

That is what I was wondering. I used Tarn-x. I poured a bunch of the Tarn-x into the bowl and then cleaned the bowl. Well, the bowl now has some swipe marks on it, in addition to the tiny dark spots. I don't know if Tarn-x caused the swipe marks. And should I try another cleaner.

Since I am donating it, I am going to leave it alone. Maybe they will know how best to handle it.

The bottom says Wm Roger Wavery 383 Silverplate. The silver looks really nice except where I messed it up cleaning it.

Re: Cleaning Silver

Snowpuppy — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 02:13:31 GMT

For those who don't have a full set or mix match of flatware, NM often styles what they call "hotel service".

It's a deliberate mix match of pieces at the same place setting. The idea came about from stories of guests helping themselves to a fine hotel's silver flatware during The Great Depression.

After a time, the hotels didn't have enough of one pattern so they supplemented with other patterns. I think it's a cute design idea in silverware caddys at a buffet service.

Re: Cleaning Silver

ID2 — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 10:12:21 GMT

Wow the OP is donating something that was an heirloom from her mother? Really? Wow.

Re: Cleaning Silver

novamc1 — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 14:35:03 GMT

I cringe when I hear of someone using Tarn-X or dips or any polish other than the more expensive brands of silver polish, which you actually have to hand-polish to rub off tarnish from solid silver. Getting rid of all tarnish does require some serious elbow grease, or swipe marks will show up.

I wonder if people realize, too, that whenever certain tarnish removers are used on silverplate, this rubs away some of the plated silver. That helps explain dark spots on antique silverplate flatware, candlesticks, etc. The silver coating probably has worn thin after multiple cleanings.

If selling or consigning old silver items, it's usually best to preserve the value in the eyes of the purchaser by NOT removing all tarnish. They would prefer to clean it themselves. That's what I have found after spending years putting many pieces of old silver into the hands of new owners who understand and value silver.