Can I Wash Silver Anti-Tarnish Cloths . . .

Without washing out all the stuff that makes the silver not tarnish? I recently bought a really nice tea set (and all the pieces and the tray match !woo,hoo!) and it came with those brown felt zipper bags to store the silver in so it won't tarnish. The bags are really dirty so I was wondering if it would be OK to wash them in Tide? TY!

 

I have NEVER had any success laundering those pacific cloth bags............if it didn't fall apart in the machine, it certainly never kept the silver from tarnishing after laundering. I just brush them off with a clothes brush, and toss if too nasty...........I do wash the silver before using though...........

edited to add: I buy pacific cloth by the yard and either run up drawstring bags my self, line the cupboards or drawers with it, or just wrap larger items in it. A piece cut to fit over the contents of a drawer works wonders as well.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

Don't do it! The muck keeps the tarnish away.

 

Thanks, everyone! I'm glad I asked. I think I'll just brush them off as suggested. The last time I sold a silver tea set at the mall, the buyer left the anti-tarnish bag on the table.

 

Totally agree - do not launder the anti-tarnish cloth/bags. Most silver cloth is made of cotton impregnated with silver particles. If you wash it you will wash out the anti-tarnish properties. If you notice that the material changes over time - it is because the impregnated pieces are actually tarnishing. A good shake out of dust/lint should suffice (do not put it thru the dryer!) If it looks gross take some tape or a lint roller gently to the OUTSIDE ONLY.