|
|
|
The following copyrighted silver care information has been provided by Jeffrey Herman, Herman Silver
Restoration & Conservation. None of the below guide can be reproduced without written permission from
Jeffrey Herman, PO Box 72839, Providence,
RI 02970, 401/461-6840, jeffherman@silversmithing.com
Polishing Silver Jewellery
The polishes and cleaners listed here could be found in your local hardware store, department store, pharmacy, or listed distributors.
3M's Tarni-Shield™ Silver Polish and Twinkle® Silver Polish are by far the least abrasive of the commercial cleaners, and Tarni-Shield™
has a much more effective tarnish barrier than Twinkle.
Goddard’s™ Long Shine Silver Polish and Silver Wash, and Wright's® Anti-Tarnish
Silver Polish and Silver Cream (this product offers no tarnish protection) are all recommended in removing heavier tarnish and residue.
Use Wright's® Silver Cream to remove stains on steel knife blades. If the choice is between a polish that protects better but is more abrasive,
and one that does not protect as well but is far less abrasive, go with the less abrasive polish.
The least abrasive polishes are those that are intended to be washed, as they use a liquid to suspend the polishing ingredients.
Polishing an object WITH porous attachments:
Wooden handles & finials, ivory insulators, felt used on the bottoms of candlesticks and compotes can become damaged
when introduced to excess moisture. Also, hollow areas that will not dry (beaded rims, handle sockets with minute holes, etc.)
or if there is no source of water, use Goddard’s™ Long Shine Silver Polish. Of the polishes listed above, this is the only one
that is intentionally left to dry and buffed off. Always use 3M's Tarni-Shield™ if you can avoid introducing moisture to porous
attachments or hollow areas. Use a large cotton ball with a small amount of polish and rotate the cleaning surface regularly to
expose unused surfaces, for elements in the tarnish can be very abrasive. Rub the object in a straight, back-an-forth manner
so to maintain a uniform appearance. Avoid rubbing in a circular motion. Let the polish dry and remove it with a cotton cloth
(preferred) or cotton dishtowel. Always use the smallest amount of polish necessary.
A dry horsehair brush can be used to remove dried polish and grime from crevices and ornament on previously polished pieces
before being re-polished. A wet brush is preferred which will soften the bristles and aid in lifting the polish from the object's
surface with minimal abrasion. When used wet, the bristles alone will not scratch the silver. A wet toothpick will get into the smallest areas.
Polishing an object WITHOUT porous attachments:
If you are cleaning a piece with no porous attachments, rinse the object first to remove any pollution that may have settled on the object.
These contaminants, which may be more abrasive than the polish you will be using, can actually scratch the silver if rubbed into the surface.
If you feel it necessary to protect your hands from moisture, use nitrile gloves that contain no ingredients to tarnish silver. Rub the object
in a straight, back-an-forth manner so to maintain a uniform appearance. Avoid rubbing in a circular motion. Rinse the sponge regularly,
for elements in the tarnish can be very abrasive. Flattened cotton swab heads with very little silver polish applied are excellent for
cleaning between fork tines. The swab will last longer if you run it parallel within each opening.
Dried polish can be removed by patting the area with a warm, wet cotton ball or a wet horsehair brush. Rinse the object with warm
water then dry with a cotton cloth or cotton dishtowel immediately to avoid spotting.
Use a rouge cloth to restore the original luster to silver and gold that has been dulled by heavy tarnish. I advise using untreated,
heavyweight cotton inspection gloves to avoid fingerprints when cleaning and storing your freshly cleaned objects. After dinner, if
you prefer not to apply a tarnish protectant, wash all utensils by hand with a dishwashing detergent and warm water then dry immediately
with a cotton cloth or cotton dish towel.
Do not allow silver to come in contact with a metal sink, as the sink itself can scratch, especially if it’s
been heavily abraded over time. And, do not allow food to remain on your flatware for extended periods; some foods contain ingredients that
may cause stains, tarnish, or corrosion.
Toothpaste as a silver polish
Toothpaste should NEVER be used as a silver polish. Some toothpastes contain baking soda or other ingredients which are much too
abrasive; even trace amounts may cause serious damage. Only use polishes that are specifically formulated to remove tarnish from silver.
| |
|