Caring for your silver

You don't have to do this to keep your silver polished!

Silver will provide generations of enjoyment. Sterling silver is durable and over the years develops a patina that can add to its value. Cleaning and an occasional polish will keep your silver in top condition for years to come.

The easiest way to keep you silver in good condition is to wash it frequently, with a phosphate-free detergent and to dry it with a soft cotton cloth. This prevents tarnish from building up on the silver, and lessens the need for polish. Tarnish is more easily removed in its early stages, when the silver appears to be a little "yellow", than after the tarnish turns brown or black.

Sulphur-containing materials, particularly hydrogen sulfide (H2S) cause silver to tarnish. Common substances which cause tarnish are skin oils, wool, felt, eggs and mayonnaise, onions, rubber and latex, and fossil fuels. Humid air, particularly salty sea air, accelerates tarnishing. A number of good silver polishes are available in grocery, department or hardware stores, or can be ordered online.

3M's Tarni-Shield™ Silver Polish is one of the least abrasive polishes and has an effective tarnish barrier. Twinkle® Silver Polish is also one of the least abrasive polishes. Goddard’s™ Long Shine Silver Polish and Silver Wash, and Wright's® Anti-Tarnish Silver Polish and Silver Cream will remove heavier tarnish and residue best.

DON’Ts:

Don’t use toothpaste. It is an abrasive and can scratch your silver.

Don’t use the same things to clean your silver scrub as you use to clean your pots! These include Scotch-Brite and steel wool, which can badly scratch your silver.

Don't use chemical dips as they can be toxic, and although they remove the tarnish quickly, they alter the surface of the silver and can result in more rapid tarnishing. This includes the home polishing trick of aluminum foil and baking soda.

Silver can be stored in sealable plastic bags with silica gel or with 3M Anti-Tarnish Strips™ provided it is first wrapped in soft cotton cloth or archival tissue paper. Simply using soft cotton cloths and sealable plastic bags will reduce the tarnish, as it minimizes exposure to air and tarnishing gases.