posted 11-29-2015 04:35 PM            

Hello:

I ran across this forum while researching storage options for my silver tableware and serving pieces. I look forward to expanding my knowledge!

I have family pieces as well as my own found at estate sales. Most are of silver plate. I am looking for better options for storage to reduce polishing time; I am more likely to use my pieces if they don’t need much polishing first. If bagging them means I cannot leave them on display in my china cabinet, so be it.

Thus far I have always bagged items in plastic bags, usually heavy zip lock bags. But I know that some plastics are bad for silver and some are good. I’d like to know more.

I also make sterling silver jewelry to sell at art fairs. The jewelry I make I usually bag in tiny zip lock bags after they are finished, bought from jewelry supply companies, and they keep a really long time before tarnishing. My personal jewelry I also bag between wearings before I put it in my drawers. Advantage of the baggies being I can see my inventory/jewelry choices. But these bags are sold for retail packaging, not long term storage; and if there is a better option I’d like to know.

I am considering making storage bags out of tarnish prevention cloth for my serving pieces, and I’d like to know what brand or type is the best. I see Kenized cloth, and Pacific Silvercloth, plus non-branded options. It’s my understanding that Kenized contains a form of zinc and Pacific, a form of silver. My search on these forums turned up only one thread linked to a test that suggested there is no different in results between them.

But putting all serving pieces into plastic zip lock baggies would be simpler still, I wouldn’t have to sew anything, and I could see what I had without the need to label.

Thank you, and I look forward to participating!

posted 11-29-2015 05:17 PM            

I think the general consensus is that Ziplock-style bags work well. In the past year or so, I've been experimenting with Intercept bags, which look like opaque copper-colored Ziplocks. A lot of museums use them, and they seem to be working well for me. I put labels on the outside for identification. If you order from the company (do a search), you'll find a range of sizes from small to tray-size. You can also get small ones where one side of the bag is clear, which might be useful for jewelry.

I sometimes wrap pieces with odd cut lengths of brown Pacific cloth before putting in Ziplocks -- that's partly for extra padding.

You might also have good luck if you use polish that has anti-tarnish agents. And since many of your pieces are silverplate, you are right to try to minimize the need for polishing. Look for the mildest, least abrasive polishes. Be sure pieces are dry before you store them. I suspect it also helps if you can keep even Ziplock or Intercept bags in airtight boxes or cabinets, with a 3M-type paper strip.

posted 11-30-2015 02:43 PM            

Thanks for the update on how the Intercept bags worked out.

For polishing tableware I use Wright’s Silver Cream, which is applied with a wet sponge and turns into a foam. It does not seem to be abrasive at all. It takes a little rubbing. Often not til I rinse it off do I see that some spots didn’t get polished enough. But I would welcome recommendations from forum members if there is a better product.

I really like Twinkle for my copper (I etch copper for sculptures, and it has to be scrupulously clean). I saw there is a Twinkle for silver too, and I wondered if it was as effective as their product for copper.

I use Sunshine cloths to quickly touch up my sterling silver jewelry when it is slightly tarnished. It can’t get into fine detail, of course. It is expensive. I am looking at a bulk polishing cloth right now on Ebay that is a fraction of the cost, sold by the yard, rather than the tiny sizes sold for Sunshine Cloth. The manufacturers of these cloths all have proprietary formulas, so I do not know how they compare. (Not a rouge cloth, I don’t like those because of the red residue)

The polishing cloths contain a micro abrasive. I can’t see scratches but that doesn’t mean they are not there. I keep them stored in plastic to make sure they do not pick up grit from anywhere. I have not used them on my silver plate for that reason, though it would be so much faster then using the silver foam.

posted 11-30-2015 05:21 PM            

If you've seen one of my recent posts, you know that I've been experimenting with Weiman's. I use Goddard's Silver Foam (you have to get the exact product name on all these things) when I want something really gentle. But I use Wright's, too, even tho' I think it rates slightly up the abrasion scale. And I don't think it has anti-tarnish properties. As for not missing some spots -- I have found that if I look closely while running water over the surface while rinsing I can usually see where tarnish remains pretty clearly.

I have no experience with Sunshine cloths -- but thanks for the tip!