Washing up after dinner

When clearing the table separate the silverware from the china and crystal. Putting dinnerware and flatware in the dish pan together will result in chipped china.

Don't put the silverware in the dishwasher. Repeated cycles in the dishwasher will result in visible etching.

Don't use any kind of scrubber or brush on your silverware- it will scratch, and if silverplate it will eventually wear away the plating, exposing the base metal.

If food is stuck on, especially acid forming or sulfurous foods, soak the silverware in hot soapy water.  Then simply wipe off with a sponge or soft cotton cloth.  Rinse each piece and quickly wipe dry with a soft non abrasive towel; this will remove water spots and keep the silver shiny longer.

Finally, let each piece thoroughly air dry before storing in a felt lined case.  Storing silverware that still has droplets of water on it, especially if put in plastic llike some people do to further protect it, leads to the infamous black spots of pitting that are impossible to polish off.   

Removing Tarnish

Never ever ever ever dip the flatware in liquids that promise to make the tarnish "disappear."  These liquids do not remove tarnish, they just turn it a sickly white color.  And they are non descriminating, they cause the tarnish in the crevices of old patterns to turn white as well, thus eliminating the patina that used to make the pattern stand out and the flatware attractive.

We use a good silver polish with jewelers rouge in it.  As it cleans away the tarnish, it also buffs the flatware, minimizing fine scratches.  We personally recommend Maas silver polish to all our customers.  Additional information is available in our eBay Store. 

Finally, once the silverware is polished, wash it in hot soapy water, rinse, towel dry and thoroughly air dry before storing.