How to Clean & Care for a Silver Plated Tea Set
Silver tea sets, whether solid or silver-plated, are valued for their beauty and craftsmanship. Silver tea services are often handed down through generations of a family and displayed prominently in the home. A tea set usually consists of a tea pot, cream pitcher, sugar bowl and waste pot. Some sets may also include strainers and other accessories. You must properly clean and care for your silver-plated tea set to protect the finish and insure your heirloom will last for generations to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Non-lemon-scented detergent
- Lint-free cotton cloth
- Non-aloe hand sanitizer
- Cotton ball
- Silver cleaner
- Horsehair brush
- Toothpick
- Cellulose sponge
- Wooden spoon or dowel
- Thread
Instructions
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Wash the silver-plated tea set after use with a non-lemon-scented detergent and dry with a lint-free cloth.
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Remove light tarnish with a non-aloe hand sanitizer on a cotton ball. Rub lightly, then dry with the cotton cloth.
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Apply silver cleaner to remove more advanced tarnish. Pour a small amount of cleaner onto a soft cloth and gently smooth onto the surface of the silver set. Rub gently until the tarnish is removed. Polish with a soft cotton cloth.
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Remove polish from crevices or engraved designs with the horsehair brush. Use the toothpick to remove polish from tiny crevices.
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Clean tea stains inside the tea pot by applying silver cleaner to a cellulose sponge and wiping out the inside. If the teapot opening isn't wide enough to fit your hand in, attach the sponge to a wooden spoon or dowel with thread and use this to apply the silver cleaner to the pot's interior. Wipe out with a soft cloth. Use a cotton swab dipped in silver cleaner to clean the spout of the tea pot.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the least abrasive silver cleaner possible and avoid rubbing too hard. Abrasive polishes can remove the silver plating on a silver-plated tea set.
Do not clean silver in the dishwasher.
