Retain the Sheen on Your Silverware
While gold is a costlier metal than silver, the latter has been used extensively for cutlery and even art. Whether you have antique figurines, candelabrums jewelry or serving plates, items made of silver lose their gleam over a period of time. Fortunately, silver can be polished and made to look as good as new. But there is a proper way to do it otherwise you might ruin the original luster of the article. Here I have put in some of my personal experiences while dealing with sliver.
Preparing the Silver
Before we get to work on the silver item, it is necessary to remove all the old grime and dirt that accumulated from all these years. Antique silverware tends to get sticky and messy and acetone is the best solution to remove all the muck. So if you got an antique collector's item from the five and dime store, make sure to use acetone for removing all the surface dirt. Use a Q-tip swab or balls of cotton and begin cleaning section after section. Acetone will render your silver free form all the stickiness and dirt.
Polishing Progression
After your silver has been cleaned of all the surface dirt, begin polishing it with a good brand of polish. There are several brands of silver polish available in the market and use any one of reputed brand. Silver polish is not expensive and you can get an eight to twelve ounce bottle for 5 to 15 dollars. It is not necessary to buy the most expensive silver polish in the convenience store. Blitz, Hagerty Silversmith or any ozone-friendly polish is good enough for the job.
After Effects for Your Sliver
Once you have done with cleaning and polish, wipe down the article with a slightly damp cloth. If you keep silver out in the open, it may need frequent maintenance to preserve the sheen. If you intend on stowing it away, do not wrap them in plastic. Simply roll the silver in old newspapers and then seal them shut in a zipper bag.
Things to avoid:
1. Do not try to dislodge old dirt on silver by placing the item in an oven.
2. Do not soak your silverware in acidic solutions as it may ruin them with prolonged immersion.
3. Do not use abrasive cleaners or rags for polishing silver. It will scour the original finish.
There is nothing known as a 'quick-fix' while cleaning your sliver. Maintaining your silverware is a time consuming process but is a rewarding experience once you are done.