topic Re: Inherited silver in Home

Inherited silver

151949 — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:13:25 GMT

I have inherited silver flatware from DH's grandmother. It is her wedding silver so it is from 1905. It's absolutely gorgeous. Brought it out of the bottom of my china cupboard to use yesterday and it was fairly badly tarnished. I have always kept it in the original wooden chest with very good success but that chest is now 110 years old and is really showing it's age. So today I polished all the pieces - then washed them and dried them and put them in ziplock bags which I squished as much air as possible out of then sealed. I hope this is going to keep them from tarnishing again.I then put the ziplocks back into the chest and put it away. My DH seems to feel it may be the salt air here, as we live only a mile from the gulf, and not really the integrity of the chest. I am tending to agree with him as the chest has been in pretty bad shape since we got married 32 years ago but this was the first time I ever had this much tarnish on them. Do you guys think it will be ok to keep them in ziplock bags to keep the air off them ? They are so pretty it would break my heart if I damaged them.

Re: Inherited silver

scotnovel — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:24:19 GMT

There are a number of websites with tips on storing silver. One from a silversmith that I read said it is ok to store in plastic bags as long as the pieces are wrapped in silver cloth first. If just stored in a plastic bag without the cloth covering, since the bags are petroleum products, they can break down over time and stain the silver. They also suggest that rubber bands should not be used to hold pieces together because they can cause the silver to stain very quickly.

Re: Inherited silver

pattypeep — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:26:24 GMT

Sorry about the bad copy and paste. These are on HSN. Item # 131890. About $20. Worth a shot.

131-890

<h1>Anti-Tarnish Strips 20-pack</h1>

Re: Inherited silver

chrystaltree — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:32:32 GMT

http://www.silverguard.com/

Re: Inherited silver

millieshops — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:37:00 GMT

I'd get them out of those plastic bags - yesterday!

Re: Inherited silver

Meeras — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:37:28 GMT

these pics are to larged..

Re: Inherited silver

DoneTryin — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:39:52 GMT

Don't you ever use the silverware?

Re: Inherited silver

Nightowlz — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:59:32 GMT

On 2/2/2015 chrystaltree said: http://www.silverguard.com/

ITA with this site. They have lots of different storage ideas for silver pieces. I bought some different zippered silver bags to keep my Pandora bracelets in. http://www.silverguard.com/

Sea Air will pit silver & leave gray dots. Never store silver in plastic. Moisture is trapped in plastic bags, sticks to the surface of silver, and marks the metal. Should this happen, take the article to a silversmith for a professional polishing. http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table_setting/place_setting/flatware/care_of_flatware.html

Re: Inherited silver

Angry Bird — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:06:20 GMT

Get it out ziplock bags and USE it. My MIL used the silverware she inherited daily..it didn't tarnish a bit. Why keep it hidden in a box?

Re: Inherited silver

Heart of Spade — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:08:50 GMT

You could ask a reputable jeweler, too.

Re: Inherited silver

151949 — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:11:28 GMT

Thanks two peas I'll look for those.

Re: Inherited silver

Luvitorleaveit1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:33:34 GMT

I have my grandmother's silver flatware from that era as well along with a serving platter, and pitcher not sure what else is in the bag but we polished everything at one time and it looked spectacular but we put it in plastic and everything is tarnished again.

I am not looking forward to that again but I am checking out the HSN site for those bags.

Re: Inherited silver

Nightowlz — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:36:33 GMT

On 2/2/2015 happy housewife said:
Thanks two peas I'll look for those.

Hope you saw the info. I posted above that I found online that says not to store in plastic.

Re: Inherited silver

HandJive — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:08:24 GMT

Hi Happy!
It's correct about not storing your inherited silver flatware in plastic. Plastic contains sulfur, (who knew?) and other toxins that will accelerate tarnishing during storage. They sell flannel flatware rolls for storage, but I made my own with a trip to the thrift store and a dozen old flannel shirts. They don't have to be fancy, they're tucked away in a drawer who's going to see them.

Sorry to break the bad news, but your silver is going to need polishing, but not as often if you're storing it inside plastic!

Re: Inherited silver

Kachina624 — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:02:22 GMT

A hundred years ago there was no anti-tarnish material available as there is now. My original jewelry box for my silver was a silver flatware chest lined with anti-tarnish cloth. I've had it for years and still use it. My own flatware came with an anti-tarnish box. You can buy these boxes made just for flatware.

You can also buy anti-tarnish cloth by the yard (Amazon) and line any box of your own choosing. I've done this making gift jewelry boxes out of interesting old wood boxes. I make a pattern using newspaper of the four sides, top and bottom of the inside and cut the pieces from the cloth, them glue in place with white glue.

Another possibility since you sew, HH, is to design and make silverware rolls out of the anti-tarnish cloth. I've even made pouches and put zippers in them. You handle this cloth just like any fabric but don't ever wash it. It's very soft and feels and looks like flannel.

Re: Inherited silver

sunshine45 — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:24:34 GMT

On 2/2/2015 Angry Bird said:
Get it out ziplock bags and USE it. My MIL used the silverware she inherited daily..it didn't tarnish a bit. Why keep it hidden in a box?

angry bird i so agree. we convinced my mom to take out her good silver (lunt eloquence) and start using it every single day! why should it be stored away to use a few times a year? when you use it every day it becomes enjoyable versus being something that has to be put away and not admired. life is short......use your good silver daily!

Re: Inherited silver

colliegirls — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:30:35 GMT

I would put them back in the chest with some new anti-tarnish strips or purchase a new chest. In addition to dept stores and ebay,I believe even Bed, Bath, and Beyond carry the chests. I bet your silver is gorgeous from that era!!

Re: Inherited silver

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:31:35 GMT

On 2/2/2015 sunshine45 said:
On 2/2/2015 Angry Bird said:
Get it out ziplock bags and USE it. My MIL used the silverware she inherited daily..it didn't tarnish a bit. Why keep it hidden in a box?

angry bird i so agree. we convinced my mom to take out her good silver (lunt eloquence) and start using it every single day! why should it be stored away to use a few times a year? when you use it every day it becomes enjoyable versus being something that has to be put away and not admired. life is short......use your good silver daily!

I have some sterling silverware and would like to use it daily, but don't because I don't like to wash dishes by hand. This is the electric dishwasher age and I'm spoiled.

I tried the hard way and the dishwasher will ruin (discolor) them quickly.

Re: Inherited silver

151949 — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 02:30:07 GMT

As usual Amazon to the rescue. Antitarnish zip close plastic bags - 10 for $14. Woo Hoo.

Re: Inherited silver

151949 — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 02:33:03 GMT

On 2/2/2015 Sunshine Kate said:
On 2/2/2015 sunshine45 said:
On 2/2/2015 Angry Bird said:
Get it out ziplock bags and USE it. My MIL used the silverware she inherited daily..it didn't tarnish a bit. Why keep it hidden in a box?

angry bird i so agree. we convinced my mom to take out her good silver (lunt eloquence) and start using it every single day! why should it be stored away to use a few times a year? when you use it every day it becomes enjoyable versus being something that has to be put away and not admired. life is short......use your good silver daily!

I have some sterling silverware and would like to use it daily, but don't because I don't like to wash dishes by hand. This is the electric dishwasher age and I'm spoiled.

I tried the hard way and the dishwasher will ruin (discolor) them quickly.

I agree - i am way too lazy to wash all the silverware by hand. And leaving it out exposed to the air - esp. the salt air here on the Gulf of Mexico would not be a good idea.Besides I like to have some things that are special for special occasions and special people.