Caring for your antique sterling silver flatware isn’t that difficult, but it is something you have to make sure you do. Otherwise, your silver may tarnish or be damaged in other ways. Here are a few tips that will help you keep your silver looking amazing.
Use Your Silver
The first tip for caring for a set of silver flatware is one that surprises some people: use it. If you regularly use your silver, you’ll notice when it needs cleaning. If, on the other hand, you leave it in a drawer and only take it out for a special occasion every now and then, it has a lot of time to tarnish. Silver flatware collectors understand that silver was meant to be used, and they keep some of their sets in the kitchen for regular use.
Do the Dishes Promptly
It’s important that you clean your silver flatware after using it. If you let it sit, especially if it sits in water or has food on it, it can begin to tarnish quickly. Rinse it off using hot water after using it and dry it off before you put it away. To make sure you don’t decrease your antique flatware worth, only use a mild dish detergent and don’t leave it to soak in water.
Be Careful what You Wrap it in
If you’re only using your flatware every now and then instead of daily, make sure you store it in a flannel bag or a box that is lined with flannel. This will help prevent your antique silver flatware patterns from being scratched or damaged. You also want to make sure you never wrap silver in anything that contains a lot of sulfur. It can turn the silver black if you do. You also want to avoid wrapping silver in newspaper or plastic or using rubber bands to hold pieces together.
