POLISHING SILVER
Our top tips and answers to some common questions.
We’ve had a whole shop filled with silver for over 50 years so we’ve done a lot of polishing. Here are answers to common questions and background information.
What products do we use?
It’s more about the process than the product, but you do need to use a good product. Fortunately there are several high-quality product lines on the market. We use Hagerty and you can source these and others easily at Target.com, Amazon, etc.
What is tarnish?
100% Silver is highly tarnish resistant but is too soft for the uses we cherish: jewelry, flatware, tableware. So long ago Sterling silver was established as the standard to achieve both the gorgeous Silver luster, but also sturdiness for daily use. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. (You might notice “925” stamped on your silver? That’s the Sterling mark, 925 of 1000 parts or 92.5%.)
Tarnish is a thin coating of oxidation formed when the 7.5% ‘other metals’ in Sterling silver react to natural elements in the air, mainly moisture and sulfur. Without polishing, tarnish continues to build and becomes more difficult to remove, so it pays to polish your silver regularly, at least once a year.
How we polish at New Orleans Silversmiths: TABLEWARE & FLATWARE
For tableware and flatware, our main arsenal includes cream or spray polish, followed by a soft cloth or treated polishing gloves. Simply apply the polish and then rub with soft cloth or polishing gloves. You can also find short instructional videos on Hagerty’s Usa website.
What about ornate pieces. Do I need to polish in all the nooks & crannies?
This is entirely a personal preference. At New Orleans Silversmiths we decide based upon the piece. With very ornate pieces we prefer to leave tarnish in the nooks & crannies because it creates a lovely contrast with the highly polished areas and emphasizes the piece’s intricate work. Here’s an example where we’ve left some tarnish in the relief areas of this candlestick.
Are there any other considerations about the nooks & crannies?
Yes. Silver polish needs to be removed completely or it will turn a noticeable chalky color. So when applying silver polish, be sure to apply it only where you plan to polish. If you’ve got a piece where this seems challenging, start with treated polishing gloves which polish only where you apply your hands. And don’t worry if you leave some polish behind. It won’t harm the piece and the chalky color will point you to where it still needs final touches.
What if I’ve got a piece so tarnished that it is dark gray or black?
Silver polish & elbow grease will work, but if you do want to remove the tarnish including all the nooks & crannies, you can start this way: https://www.marthastewart.com/913262/martha-stewart-cleans-and-polishes-silver. But do not do this with knives or candlesticks both of which have wax-like composites inside the handle (knives) or base (candlesticks). These composites can melt or disfigure in boiling water. Then once the heavy tarnishing is gone, polish following the guidance above.
Can I put Sterling flatware in the dishwasher?
Yes and no. First and most importantly, never put knives or candlesticks in the dishwasher. Their handles & bases are not solid silver – they are filled with a dense wax-like composite material which can melt or disfigure in high dishwasher temperatures. If your items have gold accents or gold washes (e.g. spoon basins), do not put these in the dish washer either. Just hand wash.
You can certainly put spoons, forks and other solid sterling items in the dishwasher but you’ll still need to buff them to their high shine and even need to polish to remove dulling soap residue. Our preference is to handwash all flatware in warm (not hot) water, and then buff to a high shine with a soft cloth or polishing gloves.
If you do put spoons & forks in the dishwasher, just make sure they do not come into contact with stainless steel items – this can leave marks on your silver that are hard to remove.
What’s the best way to keep sterling flatware from tarnishing?
The best way to keep your silver flatware from tarnishing is to use it regularly – the friction retards the oxidation process. If you don’t use it regularly, store in a typical flatware box or anything else that accomplishes the following two objectives: 1) soft fabric surfaces (so your silver doesn’t scratch), and 2) a barrier to constant air exposure (so it doesn’t tarnish).
How we polish at New Orleans Silversmiths: JEWELRY
Depending upon the piece, you’ll use either the above method for tableware or otherwise a liquid dipping solution where hand polishing of all surface is impossible, e.g. a fine link silver chain. Always rinse very well and finish by buffing with a soft cloth.
If your piece has stones or other non-silver elements, try not to get silver polish on them. If you’re using a liquid dipping type of polish, do not immerse soft stones such as pearls or opals.
And since Sterling reacts with things we put on our skin (moisturizer, perfume), it’s a good idea to wipe with a soft cloth when you take it off.
We really like the above two-piece Hagerty polishing cloth for jewelry. It is appropriate for silver, gold, platinum and more. The inner cloth cleans and removes tarnish & body oils while imparting a tarnish resisting barrier. The outer cloth buffs to a high shine.
How do we store Silver Jewelry at New Orleans Silversmiths?
We store silver jewelry in air-tight plastic bags like these. The air barrier prevents tarnishing, but there is one big caveat. The chemicals in plastic react poorly with silver so always wrap your item in tissue or something else to create a simple barrier between your item and the plastic.
What about Anti-Tarnish paper strips?
Anti-tarnish strips (also called “Silver protection strips”) absorb some of the tarnish-causing moisture and sulfur in the air. They can be cut to size and definitely help, but are not a cure-all. They are most effective when used in an air-restricted situation such as a flatware storage chest or sealed plastic bags like the ones above, and on average are effective for up to 6 months. They do not work well in an open air environment because the continual moisture and sulfur exposure essentially overwhelms them and reduces their efficacy to only a short time.
Why do we keep emphasizing using a ‘soft cloth’ with silver?
Silver (like Gold and Platinum) is Precious Metal, and a soft one. Polishing or rubbing with a paper towel can cause fine scratches and reduce the luster of your piece. Stick with any soft 100% natural cotton fabric and you cannot go wrong. Personally, in addition to Hagerty polishing gloves, I use old T-shirts and socks.
– Claire Merrill
P.S. Do you have other questions about polishing silver or perhaps something else?
Please just email us, or contact us through our website! You can also sign-up for our monthly newsletter there and be sure to receive my next article. I’d love your input!
New Orleans Silversmiths
600 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Tel: (800) 219-8333