How to Buff a Silver Plate
Buffing is the final step in the process of polishing silver. You should polish about once a year. After daily use, if you clean and buff dry properly, you can keep your silver looking polished without needing to use silver polish. Try to avoid polishing your silver too much as it may harm the finish. To buff your silver plate to a mirror-like sheen all you need is a quality silver polish, a clean cloth and some arm strength. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Clean plate before polishing. Do not polish a dirty plate. Wash the plate in warm, soapy water with a soft dish towel. You can put your silver in the dishwasher, however you must take it out before the drying cycle or else it will be spotted. You need to dry the plate completely (non-polishing buff) with a soft cloth. As long as you thoroughly clean your silver every time you use it and buff dry with a cloth it will stay polished-looking for a year before it needs to be polished again.
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Rub a thin layer of silver polish into the plate. Do not apply too much polish, it will damage your silver by wearing off the finish. When applying the silver polish, use a soft, clean cloth or towel and rub it into the silver using straight up and down motions. Try to avoid applying the polish in circles.
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Buff off the polish using a new clean cloth. For buffing you can use circular motions with a bit of upper-arm force but be careful not to dent the plate. Buff until all streaks and polish residue are gone or until you can see your face in the plate like a mirror.
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Tips & Warnings
You may need to remove tarnish before polishing. If your silver is tarnished - black from oxidation - there are chemical tarnish-removers available for purchase, or you can make your own using supplies in the house. To make your own tarnish, fill a sink with hot water, add two tablespoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of salt. Line the bottom of the sink with aluminum foil. While wearing gloves, dip the silver plates in the solution and the tarnish should fall off immediately. If the tarnish is aggressive, allow the plate to soak for no more than five minutes. Rinse and dry.
