Sterling candlesticks have cloudy finish

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

Today I attempted to clean some mid-century candlesticks using a commercial silver cleaner (TARN-X). It's real splotchy looking, with some shiny siver showing, but there are a lot of foggy (opaque white) spots on the candlesticks too. I Googled a description, but nothing came up that resembles what they look like. Anyone know what it is? I'm worried that the sterling is damaged.

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

The sterling may been thin or worn in those areas

PA Mom-mom · ‎05-27-2015

@AuntG Could the silver have been lacquered? Not sue what it would look like if you tried to polish previously lacquered silver, but we have some brass pieces that were lacquered, and they can't really be polished in the way plain brass can.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

@PA Mom-mom wrote:
@AuntG Could the silver have been lacquered? Not sue what it would look like if you tried to polish previously lacquered silver, but we have some brass pieces that were lacquered, and they can't really be polished in the way plain brass can.

I don't think so @PA Mom-mom . The brand is TOWLE Sterling. From what I learned on the internet, it was probably made between 1945 and 1955. It's a weighted sterling. People are selling sets on Ebay for around $50 so it's not the value as much as the memories. I think they were a wedding gift to my parents.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

They may be silver plated which was very popular in those days.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@AuntG Perhaps you could contact the company and ask them.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@ECBG wrote:
They may be silver plated which was very popular in those days.

@ECBG She said they're marked Sterling which means solid silver, not plated.

Very strange they don't shine up unless someone at some time tried to clean them with something caustic.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Somertime · ‎09-18-2010

Tarnx is the worst product to use on good silver. Get some good silver polish: Wright's or Haggerty's and plenty of elbow grease and then a very good buffing!

kare29 · ‎07-03-2018

There is a YouTube video by Angela Brown Cleaning from 2018 on how to remove tarnish and she was using TarnX. I skimmed it quickly and she mentioned some of the pieces she was cleaning for a client had to be done more than once to achieve really great results. You may find it worthwhile to watch it.

Because these pieces have such a sentimental value maybe you should speak with a rep at Jelmar, the company that makes Tarn-X. Their phone number is 800-323-5497 and they open at 8:30AM. (Skokie, IL)