How to Properly Take Care of Your Silver Serveware?

Eating in a classy silver dinner set is a common love shared by the classes and the masses. But, when it comes to cleaning and maintaining it, people turn a blind eye.

And hence, the silverware loses its shine and tarnishes. Contrary to the belief that silver is difficult to maintain, silver is actually very easy to take care of. You just need to know the right cleaning and maintaining measures.

So, if you love entertaining friends and serving food in sterling silver serveware, you must read about the ideal ways of cleaning and caring for silver utensils.

Here they are:

• Hand wash your silver utensils

The best and the easiest way of keeping your expensive silverware from getting worn is handwashing it immediately after use. Promptly washing the silverware after meals prevent discolouration and tarnish. Especially, if you have had acidic food like eggs, table salt, Brussels sprouts, salad dressings, fruit juices, vinegar, or items like mayonnaise or mustard, wash the utensils immediately as these items tend to tarnish silver.

Keeping silverware soaked in water for a long time dulls their finish and so, you must never do it. To properly wash your silver serveware, take a clean cloth and apply the cleaning agent. Gently clean lengthwise, following the contour of the utensil. Do not use aggressive circular strokes while cleaning. It is advisable to wash silver in hot water.

If you are using a dishwasher, follow all the washing instructions dictated by the manufacturer. It is generally suggested to not to wash silverware in a dishwasher. But, these days, many high-end brands manufacture silver utensils that are dishwasher friendly.

Once you have washed the silverware, make sure you wipe them nicely to dry them before packing and keeping them in the cabinets.

• Polish nicely

Never use standard metal polish to polish your expensive silverware. Always use a high-quality silver polish cream.

This is how you should polish your silver serveware at home:

• Rinse each item in hot water in order to remove the dust from the surface.
• While the utensil is warm, spread the silver polish using a damp foam sponge.
• Now, spread the polish quickly over the entire surface of the silver piece. Make sure you have covered the item completely.
• Rub the tarnished area gently. Use gentle strokes to rub it until all the tarnish is completely gone.
• Use a soft-bristled brush to clean crevices.
• Now, use mild dish soap and wash the item. Rinse it using warm water.
• Use a soft cotton towel and dry the item. Remove all the water.

• Do not over-polish your silverware

One of the most common mistakes that people commit is over-polishing their silverware. You must understand that silverware doesn’t require regular polishing.

If you wash your silver utensils efficiently after each use, you may not need to polish it often. Just make sure you are washing your silverware nicely using a soft cloth, and a soft-bristled brush to clean crevices.

Proper cleaning eliminates the need for polishing.

• Store your silverware properly

Just like it is important to wash your silver serveware properly, it is equally important to store it properly. If you do not store your expensive silverware properly, you predispose it to scratch, as well as corrosion. Constant exposure to air is very likely to tarnish the silverware.

Before keeping your silverware into cabinets, wrap it in acid-free tissue paper. You can also use linen or cotton but make sure the cloth piece is not dyed. Flannel bags also serve the purpose well. Keep the utensils in airtight conditions. You can use an airtight chest or airtight boxes for the purpose. Using chests or storage boxes with rubber seal is a big no-no.

• Other important tips

Taking care of silver serveware becomes really easy when you know what’s right and what’s wrong. Lack of awareness takes a toll on the expensive silver utensils and they get tarnished and discoloured in no time.

Read these important tips to keep your silverware new and shining:

• Never use an abrasive cloth or wire wool to remove stains from your silver utensils as it will scratch the entire surface of the silverware.
• Never polish the silver items excessively as it will remove a small amount of metal every time.
• If you are cleaning or polishing your silverware wearing gloves, make sure you wear plastic or cotton gloves as rubber gloves are very corrosive in nature and they can corrode your silver utensils.

You spend so much money on expensive silverware and hence, it is very important to take care of it. Now that you know how to properly clean silverware, use these easy tips and keep it clean and shiny forever.