You have made a wonderful investment and purchased some sterling silver or silverplate flatware or holloware here on ebay.  The seller has not properly shined it prior to shipping it to you so it arrives with 30 years of tarnish and of course food left over from it's final meal.  "No problem!" you say to yourself.  I know just how to "clean" it.

The first step you take is to go out and purchase an "instant dip" which is supposed to clean silver.  After putting your flatware into this chemical solution you discover that it did nothing to clean your silver but instead made it look dull and ugly.  Do this enough and you will NEVER get your silver shiny again.

Since the above method did not work you then go to a local internet forum including one here on ebay.  After discussing your problem on this forum you are given some "wonderful" advice telling you that there is another easy way to "clean" (read destroy) your silver.  Just go get some hot water, put it in a metal bowl (or a plastic bowl with some aluminum foil) and throw in some powder clothing detergent and then your silver and it will be "clean"!  To your utter dismay you discover that this method not only DID NOT CLEAN YOU SILVER but it DID remove some of your silverplate off of your circa 1900 antique silver.  Cost to replate your silver is around $15.00 - $20.00 per piece and it NEVER looks right again.  It is cheaper to buy some more!

"AAAGH!!!" you think to yourself.  "What to do now?".  Your best friend thinking she is being helpful makes another lousy suggestion.  Just use toothpaste and if it is really tarnished feel free to use a brillo pad or steel wool!  What a "great" idea!  Now your latest silver acquisition is coated with deep scratches caused by both of these VERY BAD suggestions.  They will never be the same again and will have scratches for the rest of their existence.

Now for all of you who want to take the easy way out I am going to tell you EXACTLY how to clean your silver and NEVER have to shine it with that "dirty" silver polish (I use Wright's silver cream but any paste or liquid silver polish will do).  It is so pathetically simple and it is GUARANTEED to preserve your silver's value and beauty for generations to come!

1.  Buy from a dealer like me  http://stores.ebay.com/BURIED-TREASURES-STERLING-SILVER  who have already shined it the RIGHT way ie. silver polish.

2.  Once you get your silver buy a silverware chest if it did not already come with one.  http://stores.ebay.com/BURIED-TREASURES-STERLING-SILVER_SILVERWARE-FLATWARE-CHEST_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZ10QQftidZ2QQtZkm

3.  Use your sterling silver or silverplate flatware or holloware DAILY.  Yes this means having to wash it shortly after use (and NEVER in the dishwasher) but that is ok because silver looks so much better than stainless steel (and is much more valuable).  Besides, no one ever talks about your ugly stainless steel flatware when they are visiting but I can assure you that your guests will compliment you on your fine silver!

Why is washing silver after use so important?  Because certain foods like eggs, mayonaise and tomatoes have acids that react with silver.  By washing shortly after use (or rinse if you are running late) you prevent these acids from damaging the silverplate or sterling. 

I am going to give each of you a secret kept by many ladies who have had silver on their tables for 50 or more years!  If you use your silver DAILY and wash it and store it in your silverware chest (make sure it is dry when you put it in the box) you will never (or almost never depending upon you) have to shine your silverware again! 

NEVER POLISH SILVER AGAIN! "What's this?" you ask believing the lie that "silver is too hard to care for".  If you use your silver regularly and wash it right after use the impurities in the food and in the air (sulphur) never have a chance to form tarnish on your silver.  Now isn't that much more simple than these other "quick and easy" methods that are GUARANTEED to destroy your silver?  You are blessed with a piece of history once owned by a happy bride.  Please take the time to PROPERLY care for it so that future generations may enjoy it as well.  Happy ebaying!