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Contrary to popular
belief, silver doesn't tarnish especially rapidly
unless items are left in an atmosphere where sulphur
is present.
General tips
-
To
clean your silver there are a number of safe silver
polishes on the market which can be used with
a soft cloth.
-
Always make sure that you remove
all traces of polish, as it can clog up decorated
areas.
-
Pointed swabs designed for applying
make-up are very good for getting into difficult
areas.
-
Avoid using toothbrushes when cleaning
as they could scratch the surface.
-
Don't over polish
silver as you may erase decoration and eventually
wear the metal thin.
-
If you have to wash your
silver do it quickly in luke warm soapy water.
Rinse and dry very thoroughly.
-
Never soak your silver
or put it in the dishwasher.
-
Wrapping silver in
an anti-tarnish cloth will help protect the silver
from pollutants and scratches.
How to mend a knife
Sometimes the blade comes away from the handle
of a knife. The material binding the two is called
'pitch'. When the blade has come away only an inch
or so, or in some cases when the handle has come
off completely, there may be enough pitch to repair
it.
-
Examine
the 'tang' (the part of the blade that goes into
the 'pitch'). Is it intact?
-
What is it made of?
It may be made of a base metal such as iron.
-
You
will probably need to heat the pitch. To do
this put the knife in a safe area near a heat source,
perhaps near a radiator or stove, so that it
can slowly soften. If it does soften then you may
be able to ease the blade back in.
-
Don't force it.
-
Don't use hot water
to heat the knife as this can cause the metal
to rust.
-
You should not use the knife for
preparing or eating food after this kind of repair.
Cleaning candlesticks
Candlesticks that are frequently used can build
up a thick body of wax. Never try to hack off the
wax with a knife. There is a simple solution. First
leave the candlesticks in a warm room to soften
the wax. Then lay the candlestick down, supporting
uneven areas with soft, clean cloths. Then use
a blunt cocktail stick to slowly and carefully
remove the wax. Finally, if necessary, buff up
with a silver polishing cloth.
Remember, don't put
the candlesticks in a freezer to remove the wax. The
metal can react (sometimes dramatically) to this temperature
change. Often, candlesticks are made of more than
one metal. If exposed to a dramatic change in temperature
the metals might react at a different rate which could
cause the candlestick to split apart. The temperature
change could also loosen applied decoration such as
inlay, enamel or paint.
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