Cleaning silver

OK,lilfont posted that link by Herman Silver...I looked at patina.

 

OK I am outta here.

 

So I ran out of Wright's all purpose brass polish today. Been using it on silver (label says not to) since I found this old can. Many have suggested Wright's silver cream as the best for silver.

I went to the evil walmart. Found my way to a parking space eventually (many putzes in the way). Started in the wrong end of the store apparently. Finally found it near groceries. Grabbed two gallons of milk and went to check out.

There are four self serve checkouts. One is out of order. One has two of the illegal types with a cart full of groceries, going real slowly as they have to look around after each item to see if anyone is watching as they skip scanning some items they bag. Another has an older guy that can't seem to see the screen and may have never used a computer before. I get behind the woman who has a single greeting card. It only takes her 15 minutes to complete her transaction and another two minutes to move out of the way.

This Wright's silver cream is worthless. It has done nothing on anything I tried it on. Other than leave itself in the nooks.

The darker tarnish is untouched. The lighter tarnish looks like gunmetal. The pictures look better than they are. There is nothing that looks like silver on either piece. The filigree boxes are a real mess now with that crud in the fine spaces and the metal still looking like old lead.

 

Terry, I'm sorry you had such a bad time at W-mart.
I've been polishing silver jewelry for over 25 years with Hagertey Silversmiths Gloves, ....& with some elbow grease....the results are always professional.

 

Hi Terry,
I refuse to even enter a Walmart. Once I did to pick up a neighbors perscription.
When doing silver I always wash it first in hot soapy water and rinse. That way the item is clean and warm. I usually use Wright's or Haggerity and then rinse with warm water. If you are getting residue it because you are putting the cleaner on too thick. Keep the sponge/cloth wet while using and rinse well. I have had flatware that was absolutely black and several polishing attempts did nothing. I then used the dreaded TarneX soak for two minutes and washed in the hot soapy water. Then I polished with silver cleaner to protect the item. If you don't the item will develope a weird white color and start to tarnish quickly.
greg

 

If you do get the weird white thing, put the silver in a paper bag with a banana skin and it restores patina.

I use Sunshine cloths for jools and smalls. Bigger stuff gets a good rub with a microfibre cloth or old towel - amazing how much crud comes off. Goddards Silver Foam is great stuff, don't know if you guys can buy it.

A clean eraser works wonders on silver, too.

 

Hi Bear,
We get Goddard's here but it is expensive.
greg

 

This may sound weird, and I don't have enough silver that I need a whole tub of any cleaner, but I have always used just a dab of cream toothpaste (not gel) and rubbed it with my fingers ,and any metal I have tried it on comes out great.

 

Also protects against cavities ....!

 

Wrights silver cream comes with a round sponge that you moisten THEN you wash with warm water per the instructions. I also use Haggertys and Pine-Ola,the latter you let dry into a powder then after you use a soft cloth to softly polish it,there is also a tarnish inhibitor

 

I know this is an older post but I use MAAS metal polish works great on any metal silver gold etc

 

Maas is very good. It also detects bakelite. On jewellery I only use Sunshine cloths though.

 

Owen never used it for bakelite always used simichrome I use the sunshine cloths as well but for bigger tougher areas I use MAAS

 

Maas works as well as Simichrome does: easier to get it here, too.

 

Hi Greg. This is great. Definitely gonna try it but I need clarification of two things please. First, can you tell me an example of a "liquid silver polish" so I use the right thing? I'd also like to know what kind of cloth you use. Anything special? Thanks.