How to Clean Tarnished Silver Cutlery and Silverware
To clean tarnished silver cutlery, immerse it for three to four minutes in Hagerty Silver Bath, then rinse and dry it straight away. For trays and flat surfaces, use Silver Care paste, or Silver & Multimetal Foam if the piece combines several metals. Then store the clean, dry pieces in Silver Guards bags to slow down tarnishing.
Video transcript
Why does silver tarnish?
Is your silverware and other silver items tarnished, but you're hesitating between a polishing cloth, jeweller's glove, spray, lotion, or immersion bath? We are going to help you see things more clearly and guide you in choosing the best product. First, let's recall why silver tarnishes. It reacts to sulphur compounds in the air, and this tarnishing, often called oxidation, is not just simple dirt and remains reversible. Before any cleaning, make sure to check that it is silver or silver-plated, notably by looking for the hallmark.
Choosing the right Hagerty silver care product
At Hagerty, you will find a whole range of care products for silver, because each one of them meets a specific need and a precise level of tarnishing. On one hand, we have four products intended for the maintenance of decorative objects made of silver and silver-plated metal. There is the Silver Polish, which is suitable for smooth surfaces and noticeable tarnishing; the Silver Duster for quick maintenance; the Silver Spray for objects with relief and engravings; and the Silver Gloves for bulky or complex pieces. No rinsing is necessary with these products if they are used to restore shine to a decorative object. However, if it is to come into contact with food, rinse it thoroughly after cleaning and dry it completely.
Cleaning products for table silverware
On the other hand, we have three cleaners intended for table silverware, and these are the ones we are going to present to you in this demonstration video. The difference with the four products seen previously is that they must be carefully rinsed and dried after use so that the objects can come into contact with food or drinks.
Silver Bath: cleaning silver cutlery
Let's start with the Hagerty Silver Bath immersion bath, ideal for effortlessly restoring shine to silver or silver-plated cutlery. Let's see how to use it. Take out the basket, place the spoon or fork in it, then immerse them for three to four minutes in the solution. For a knife with a steel blade, never immerse the blade. A reaction could stain the metal. Once the time is up, remove the basket, rinse each piece with clear water, and dry it immediately with a soft cloth. The cutlery regains its shine without prolonged scrubbing.
Silver Care: cleaning trays and flat surfaces
Next is Silver Care, a specific paste that cleans and removes oxidation from silver and silver-plated items. It is particularly suitable for trays and other flat surfaces. Here is how to use it. Dampen the sponge, take a little paste, then work the surface with small circular motions, focusing on the tarnished areas. Then rinse with warm water and dry immediately with a soft cloth. The shine reappears as soon as it dries.
Silver & Multimetal Foam: cleaning multiple metals
Finally, there is the Silver & Multimetal Foam, which is used in the same way as Silver Care, but its formula is more versatile, as it allows you to take care of silver and silver-plated items, as well as pewter and steel. On a damp sponge, lather a small amount of the paste and clean the object thoroughly. Then rinse with warm water and dry. For silverware alone, Silver Care remains the most specific treatment. For several compatible metals, choose Silver & Multimetal Foam. Both formulas help to slow down the return of tarnishing.
Silver Guards: protecting silverware in storage
To preserve the shine of your silverware, we recommend storing clean and perfectly dry pieces in Hagerty Silver Guards protective pouches. Their dry-impregnated fabric helps to slow down oxidation. For cutlery, the Cutlery Rolls separate the pieces to limit contact and friction. They are available in eight sizes. And for trays and bulky items, there are the Holloware Bags, which come in three sizes.
Which product should you choose?
To summarize, there is the Silver Bath for cutlery, the Silver Care for larger silver and silver-plated pieces, the Silver & Multimetal Foam for maintaining various metals, and the Silver Guards for storage. Always remember to properly identify the metal before cleaning and to follow the instructions on each Hagerty packaging. If you have any questions, we remain at your disposal.