Caring for your Silver

Sterling and silverplated finishes will tarnish if left unprotected. Keep your silver shielded from air, moisture, dust and dirt. Don’t store silver items near rubber bands or anything rubber, since rubber corrodes silver. Ditto for salt, salad dressing, olives, pickles, vinegar, or anything acidic. And fruit and flowers in silver dishes or vases will also cause damage.

For storage, wrap your items in silver cloth, and place silica gel packs for added protection against moisture.

Wash and dry your silver the old-fashioned way – by hand. Avoid using the dishwasher. Sterling contains 7.5 percent alloy, overwhelmingly copper. For best results, use mild detergent and a sponge. Dry asap and put the silver in storage.