cta
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posted on March 15, 2004 08:28:46 PM new
Okay, I'm getting lazy in my old age...actually I simply just don't have the time anymore. I've accumulated boxes and boxes of silver plate and some nice pieces of sterling, but it's been sitting for years because it takes so darn long to clean. Anyone have a really great suggestion for cleaning it quickly and easily? Isn't there something you can just "dip" it in that takes all those years of tarnish off? I've tried some decent products, but nothing that takes it off without quite a bit of elbow grease. Please let me know if you've used a great product that will save me hours of rubbing and polishing and where I can buy it. Thanks a bunch!
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toasted36
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posted on March 15, 2004 08:40:11 PM new
CTA I find most people don't want you to clean a piece...it give it more of a age or Motif with the tarnish on , and if you do clean it you'll get 20 emails asking what you cleaned it with lol so you really can't win. Try one piece uncleaned and just state you do not clean because of the age,that you leave that up to the new owner and see what happens.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on March 15, 2004 08:41:29 PM new
Silver dips will remove light tarnish (as well as any patination/age that gives the piece its antique look) but it will not completely remove heavy tarnish.
I guarantee you will not be happy if you try to dip a heavily-tarnished piece. It'll be ruined.
There is no shortcut to cleaning silver. Get a bottle of good silver polish/protectant (3M makes a terrific product) and go to it. Then wrap the pieces in silvercloth or other soft cloth and store in an air-tight place.
Wait, there IS one shortcut. Get someone else to do it for you. There's a local silver shop that does a great deal of this work. Don't know what they charge.
"Clearly, people want things that make their lives the way they wish they were." --John Peterman, `Peterman Rides Again'
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sanmar
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posted on March 15, 2004 09:18:26 PM new
0The best thing that I have found is "Cape Cod" polising cloths. Many antique shops carry them. You can buy them in a pkg of 2 or a can/kit with 6 cloths, gloves & a polishing cloth. They have a pleasant odor (like vanilla) & last forever. You can use them on silver, gold, copper, brass, nickel, pewter, aluminum, & stainless steel. Made in Cape Cod, USA Cape Cod Polising Company, Dennis, MA 02638 508-385-5099.
[ edited by sanmar on Mar 15, 2004 09:20 PM ]
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Libra63
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posted on March 16, 2004 01:38:44 AM new
Wright's Silver polish. The kind that comes in the jar not in the bottle. It takes longer to polish but in the end it is best for your silver. Please don't use the dip as it takes quite a bit of the silver off.
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rarriffle
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posted on March 16, 2004 03:41:36 AM new
after buying the cleaner or cloth, then find a grandchild who loves to just spend time with you and you pay them a few bucks to help with the rubbing part.
my grandson loved doing this when he was younger..they are fascinated by the shine they get.
just make sure your cleaner is not toxic.
everyone has given you great advice regarding the dip cleaners, they definitely will ruin a nice piece.
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mcjane
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posted on March 16, 2004 06:14:20 AM new
Simichrome, made in Germany, is the best polish I have ever used. I used to buy it at a shop that sold brass, silver & copper & it was rather expensive for a small tube. I have since found it on eBay at a much cheaper price.
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Roadsmith
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posted on March 16, 2004 07:43:07 AM new
Sanmar: Can you tell me more about the Cape Cod polishing cloths? For my silver jewelry, I've always used dry polishing cloths I get at Nordstrom. Are these Cape Cod cloths dry or wet? Just curious. They do sound good.
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
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Libra63
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posted on March 16, 2004 08:35:20 AM new
Roadsmith. You can probably get a polishing cloth at a good jewelry store. We use to have a 1928 store and they sold them. It works really good. I don't know if stores like walmart might sell them but you can also check that. If you are ging to clean silver jewelry be sure that you leave some patina on it. Like in the crevaces to gvie it a old/new look.
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sparkz
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posted on March 16, 2004 09:05:02 AM new
Mcjane...Simichrome is good, but I use it for an entirely different purpose. I use it to identify Bakelite. A small amount on a cloth will turn yellow when exposed to bakelite.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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Roadsmith
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posted on March 16, 2004 09:26:35 AM new
Thanks, Libra. When my two current cloths wear out, I'll look in the places you suggest. I just like to keep the cloths handy, because I wear sterling silver almost exclusively.
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
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sanmar
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posted on March 16, 2004 11:25:00 AM new
roadsmith, Old Cape cloths are slightly moist to the touch. I have use them for about 4 yrs. & won't use any thing else. If you can't find any let me know & I will send you one.
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mitch3
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posted on March 16, 2004 03:03:23 PM new
Let's ask Martha Stewart....
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Roadsmith
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posted on March 16, 2004 03:09:57 PM new
Now, now! We're talking about cleaning silver, not laundering money. . . .
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
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Lorelei2004
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posted on March 16, 2004 10:35:08 PM new
Silver Polishing Cloth that is chemically treated with non-toxic cleaning and polishing agents especially formulated for fine silver, gold, and platinum in order to restore the luster of these metals. I've bought two of these - love them - work wonders. FYI on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=494&item=2697206985
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sparkz
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posted on March 16, 2004 10:58:02 PM new
If you're listing a lot of stuff and in a big hurry, the quickest and easiest way I found is to use 00 steel wool and Ajax cleanser. It gets rid of that tarnish in a hurry. I don't fool with silverware any more. The product return rate is too high. Those silver buyers are sure a picky bunch.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:18:46 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:18:51 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:18:58 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:18:58 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:18:58 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:19:02 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:19:03 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:19:04 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:19:04 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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sanmar
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:19:22 AM new
IMHO, sparkz, I would never use any abrasive on silverplate hollow ware. It would leave marks & ruin the finish. Sorry, but I have cleaned dozens of pieces with Old Cape Cod. I usually do it while watching TV.
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OhMsLucy
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posted on March 17, 2004 10:49:11 AM new
Sanmar - You're stuttering again... 
[ edited by OhMsLucy on Mar 17, 2004 10:51 AM ]
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mcjane
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posted on March 17, 2004 11:32:31 AM new
Lucy 
sparkz
Didn't know that about Bakelite & Simichrome, thanks.
Did you ever use it to polish anything, give it a try. It's great for ALL metals. I even use it on my stainless steel sink & you have to try it to believe what it does. Sink looks almost like chrome when finished.
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