Most of us have items made of silver in our homes. Such item includes dishes, cutlery, and jewelry, among others. Over time, these items are likely to get stains and dirt on them. Stains on silver objects occur naturally regardless of how well we take care of them. It will be awkward if you have guests over only to find your dishes have stains. Stained jewelry is not a pleasant thing either.
It is not easy to prevent your silver items from getting stains as a result of exposure to air and water. However, there are ways in which you can effortlessly clean the stains and dirt from them. The following tips will help you in efficiently cleaning your silver items with ease.
Use Silver Polish
Wiping your silver items can remove dirt from them. However, it will not give the item its glistening look. Using a silver polish will both clean your item and leave it shining as new. When cleaning your stained objects, put a tiny bit of the polish on a clean cloth. Then brush the object with the cloth, moving it up and down to ensure that you leave it smooth. When brushing the silver item, you should turn the cloth frequently so that you do not rub back the dirt. After you are through with polishing, rinse the item with warm water and dry it with a clean and dry cloth.
Use Dish Soap
In case you do not have silver polish, you can use a few drops of dish soap with warm water. However, you can only use this on dull and filmy items with no stains. Dip a clean, soft cloth in warm water with dish soap. Use the cloth to rub the item clean. Rinse the clean item with water and then use another dry cloth to wipe off the moisture.
Use Baking Soda
Unlike the dish soap, baking soda can clean the thicker tarnish. Use three parts baking soda with one part water to make a paste. Use some water on the item you are cleaning to make it moist. Using a clean cloth, rub the paste all over the item. After removing all the stains, rinse the item with water then wipe it dry.
Ways of Preventing Stains on Silver
As we said earlier, it may not be easy to avoid staining that occurs naturally. However, there are measures that you can take to reduce the frequency of staining on your silver items. These measures will also help in ensuring that your jewellery, dishes and cutlery maintain their shine a lot longer.
Proper Storage
To ensure that your silver items remain stain-free, you should store them in a cool and dry place. You can also use anti-stain bags for your jewellery, putting each piece separately.
Keep Away From Moisture
During storage, your silver items should not ensure that they do not come into contact with moisture. You may also use things, such as pieces of chalk, which absorb moisture from the air. When wearing your silver jewellery, you should also avoid getting them moist.
Frequent Use
Silver items that are left unused for a long time are more likely to get stains on them. You should therefore use your jewellery, cutlery and dishes frequently to reduce the likelihood of tarnishing. The friction from using the items will slow down staining, keeping them shiny for a long time.
Cascade Maids are the professionals to call for the job. Don’t hesitate to give us a call.