Are you struggling with finding a way to clean your sterling silver items? Do you want to show off your antiques, but they lack the shine that impresses your guests? Don’t worry! Keep reading for best practices for restoring your sterling silver antiques.

Cleaning Your Sterling Silver Antiques

There are several options for naturally cleaning your sterling silver antiques. Natural ingredients will help prevent damage to your items.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Create a solution using half a cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda. Soak your silverware or silver pieces to bring back the shine.

Cornstarch and Water

Mixing water and cornstarch will make a paste that you can rub onto your silver antiques. Let the paste dry, then rub it away with a damp cloth. Voila! Your sterling silver will shine like new again!

Dishwashing Soap

Line your sink with towels to avoid scratching your silver items, and fill the sink with warm water. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the water. Ensure the soap you’re using is phosphate-free and not lemon-scented. Wash up your antique items and dry them off completely. Don’t allow them to air dry because water left on the silver can cause spotting or tarnishing.

Enlist a Silversmith To Restore Your Silver

Silversmiths know the best ways to restore your sterling silver. Their entire job focuses on this precious metal. If you’re nervous about polishing your pieces or harming your silver, hiring a silversmith will ensure proper care.

They have the necessary tools to make your silver shiny and new without causing damage. They’ll clean around all the intricate details that make polishing silver so challenging.

Storing Your Sterling Silver Antiques

If you’re going to store your silver items, there are proper ways to put them away. Otherwise, you could damage your antiques. For cutlery, invest in a cutlery chest lined with anti-tarnish cloths. Purchase silver cloth bags to store your larger antique items. Wrap them in archival tissue paper to combat tarnish.

Keep rubber bands, newspaper, or felt away from your sterling silver antiques. These products contain chemicals that create black marks and are almost impossible to remove. Avoid using plastic wrap on your items. The plastic can break down and produce condensation that will harm your silver.

Many people love collecting vintage sterling silver. Correctly caring for and restoring your sterling silver antiques means you can continue passing down the pieces to your children or grandchildren. Follow these best practices to keep your items looking their best.