How to Polish Antique Silver Plate
To keep your antique silver plate pieces looking nice, you must periodically polish them. Silver tarnishes over time. A silver item that appears yellow or black has tarnished and needs to be polished. The first time you polish a tarnished piece, it will probably take a lot of elbow grease. Keeping the items looking nice with more frequent polishing will make the job much easier. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Silver polish
- Soft cotton cloths
- Mild dish soap
Instructions
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1
Rinse your antique silver plate in hot water first to remove any surface dirt. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to get dirt out of crevices.
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2
Apply a generous coat of silver polish to the entire piece. Follow the directions on the silver polish you are using; some polishes require time to sit for a few minutes before removing.
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3
Use a sponge or a soft cloth and gently rub in a circular motion over a small area of the piece until the tarnish is removed. Rinse the sponge or cloth frequently. Continue until the whole piece of silver plate has been polished.
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4
Wash the piece in hot water and a mild dish soap to remove any remaining silver polish residue. Again, use the soft-bristled brush to get polish out of crevices, if necessary.
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5
Dry and buff the silver plate with a very soft cotton cloth.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Properly storing your antique silver plate will slow down the rate of tarnish. Store pieces in flannel bags that are treated for tarnish resistance. These can be found at most jewelry and department stores. Flatware should be stored in wood boxes that are lined with tarnish-proof felt.
If displaying antique silver plate pieces, avoid areas that are damp or humid. Moisture will accelerate the rate of tarnish.
Silver is a soft metal and scratches easily. Never use abrasive cleansers, steel wool or hard-bristled brushes when cleaning or polishing it.
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Comments
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skaizun
Jun 27, 2008
(continued) mother's badly tarnished 8-piece silver service set; the luster (not to mention her smile!) was worth every minute of effort. Always wear gloves (I use ordinary dish gloves), as the water and polish might dry out or damage your skin and nails. If you're not up to it, then take the item to a jeweler or similar professional. -
skaizun
Jun 27, 2008
(continued) mother's badly tarnished 8-piece silver service set; the luster (not to mention her smile!) was worth every minute of effort. Always wear gloves (I use ordinary dish gloves), as the water and polish might dry out or damage your skin and nails. If you're not up to it, then take the item to a jeweler or similar professional.
-
skaizun
Jun 27, 2008
(continued) mother's badly tarnished 8-piece silver service set; the luster (not to mention her smile!) was worth every minute of effort. Always wear gloves (I use ordinary dish gloves), as the water and polish might dry out or damage your skin and nails. If you're not up to it, then take the item to a jeweler or similar professional.
-
skaizun
Jun 27, 2008
(continued) mother's badly tarnished 8-piece silver service set; the luster (not to mention her smile!) was worth every minute of effort. Always wear gloves (I use ordinary dish gloves), as the water and polish might dry out or damage your skin and nails. If you're not up to it, then take the item to a jeweler or similar professional.
-
skaizun
Jun 27, 2008
(continued) mother's badly tarnished 8-piece silver service set; the luster (not to mention her smile!) was worth every minute of effort. Always wear gloves (I use ordinary dish gloves), as the water and polish might dry out or damage your skin and nails. If you're not up to it, then take the item to a jeweler or similar professional.
