Perhaps you received sterling silver flatware as a wedding gift or are a fan of antique silver, but you’re not sure how to keep it clean and shiny. For more info on how to polish silver and remove tarnish, we consulted David Thompson, a silversmith and manager at Zapffe Silversmiths in Seattle.
How to Wash Sterling Silver Flatware
The best way to wash sterling silver flatware is to use the soft side of a sponge or soft cloth (like pure cotton or microfiber) with warm water and mild dish soap (like Dawn). Thompson says that it isn’t necessary to dry the pieces right after washing the silverware unless you’re concerned about water spots forming.
Can You Put Sterling Silver In the Dishwasher?
Putting sterling silver in the dishwasher is not recommended due to the high heat typical of most cycles. “Most dishwashers use very high heat to dry your dishes after being washed, which, when paired with some detergents can cause silverware, or other types of silver pieces, to turn a shade of cloudy white,” Thompson says. “This doesn’t just come off with a hand polishing and can end up needing a professional restoration job.”
However, Thompson says that several customers have reported putting their sterling silver in the dishwasher on low heat without any issues. Be sure to seek out detergents specially formulated for use with silverware and avoid detergents with lemon or citrus additives.
How to Polish Silverware
For Deep Polishing: Use Silverware Polish and a Soft Cloth
The best way to polish silverware is to use a soft cloth and silverware polish. Thompson and the Zapffe Silversmiths team recommend Hagerty Silver Polish, either in liquid polish or paste form. “They sell polishing solutions specifically for sterling and gold, along with liquid and paste versions of each polish,” he says. Thompson cautions against using paste polish on silver pieces with ornate patterns. “The paste can get caught in the pattern a lot easier than liquid polishes. We always recommend washing your silver after polishing it! But the paste can still get stuck in those deep patterns after washing them.”
Thomspon says he uses pure microfiber cloths, like those purchased from auto parts stores or old cotton shirts. “Stay away from dish towels for anything more than drying as the continuous rubbing can cause fine scratches,” he says. “ And don’t use a standard toothbrush for that deep pattern. They can be really abrasive to silver. Horsehair brushes are designed and made for silver polishing for a reason!”
For Light Polishing: Remove Tarnish with a Dry Cloth
Silverware that has a light tarnish can be removed with a dry cloth or warm soap and water. Otherwise, Zapffe Silversmiths recommend using silver polish. “Spend the $10 to $30 on a good polish and save yourself the potential hundreds, if not thousands, on restoration costs to pieces you care about and have sentimental value with,” Thompson says.
Avoid Baking Soda and Foil
Thompson says that using baking soda and tin foil (a trick touted on social media) to clean silverware is not recommended. “If you don’t get the solution mixed correctly it can cause etching in the metal and damage the pieces,” he says.
How to Store Silver Flatware
It’s perfectly acceptable to store silver flatware in a silverware organizer in your kitchen drawer. But if you want it to maintain its shine and polish for longer, Thompson recommends storing silver flatware in silverware chests or in zippered flatware drawer liners made with silver cloth, which is specially treated to prevent pieces from tarnishing as quickly, if at all.
Foods That Shouldn’t Touch Silver
Salt and acidic foods, such as tomatoes, fruits or vinegar, can cause damage to your silver, but only if you don’t take proper care of your silver. “Salt is by far the most corrosive which is why a lot of people have saltshakers/cellars that have a lot of corrosion or pitting on them. Sometimes the caps even get stuck to a point where they can’t be removed by hand,” Thompson says.
Thompson adds that “Sterling or silver plated flatware was designed and made to be used! As long as you wash it well after each use it’s going to be fine. When you don’t properly wash the flatware, or any silver items used for food, is when you end up with problems like pitting or damage to the silver.”
When You Should Hire a Professional Silversmith
If you’ve tried polishing your silver at home and aren’t getting the results you want, or if you have a sentimental or valuable piece of silver, it’s time to call in a professional.
“Sometimes the tarnish that’s built up on your silver items simply doesn’t go away with a hand polish and needs some extra help to look beautiful and shiny again,” Thompson says. “We have tools here that were made back when the business was started in 1919. We also have our cleaning and plating room with a variety of electro-cleaning tanks using strong soaps and chemicals to get all the tarnish and grime off of pieces. We also use high speed buffing lathes to get that bright silver shine you see on new and restored silver and these lathes give us the ability to even remove the deep scratches or pitting on silver flatware and other items.”
