I have sure enjoyed seeing all of the blogs recently showing off their beautiful silver. I love silver, but the care of it sometimes overwhelms me as I'm not really into the tarnished look especially on eating utensils. I have four large sets of beautiful sterling flatware that I have inherited, but I find myself reaching for my stainless steel to avoid the care and feeding of the sterling.
Yesterday, I received my March 2010 issue of "Country Living" magazine which suggests storing the silver with a piece of chalk to ward off the tarnish. I've also heard that camphor available at a pharmacy works when stored with silver.
Have any of you tried these two methods? Also, do any of you put your sterling flatware in the dishwasher? If so, I would love to hear your comments. I found a piece of sidewalk chalk in the grand kid's stuff, so I'll be giving this a try.
Happy Ground hog's Day. I guess we are to have six more weeks of winter, but I'm sure Spring is not too far off!!!
11 comments:
Hi, I just keep my grandmother's silverware in the silverware chest (box) and it doesn't get very tarnished in there. My mom also keeps hers in the drawer of the china cabinet that has the treated cloth lining. I've heard that one is not supposed to put silver in the dishwasher. That soap is very abrasive, so don't try that!
My snowdrift out front is going to be here long past the first day of spring, even with 50 degree days! Hope therapy and recovery are still going well.
Sally, I am so sure that I will be in the minority here, but I do put my silverware in the washer! For years, it stayed in the silver box, well protected nd unused, because I didn't want to polish or wash it. One day I decided that if I wasn't going to use it, I might as well get rid of it. (I have a full set I received as wedding gifts, a set that belonged to my mother, and a set that belonged to my grandmother, but I do serve a lot of people for holidays, and I use it all!) When I started thinking about selling it, I made a decision to use it and to put it in the dishwasher (which was the only way I'd ever use it). I do try to separate it from the stainless, because I have read that being next to the stainless in the dishwasher can cause problems. Once I admitted that I won't use it if it doesn't go in the dishwasher, so I might as well put it in the washer, I use it frequently. Sorry, didn't mean to leave a book in your comment section! laurie
I have never tried either method...let us know if they work!
I use my sterling and plate all the time...if my family isn't good enough for using it, who is?
I don't put it in the dishwasher, it only takes a few minutes to was and dry it. Especially, don't put hollow handled knives in it, the heat will split them, eventually. I have heard/read that if the silver touches stainless it will blacken and can't be removed, some type of chemical reaction.
Hi Sally, thanks for you visit and lovely comment. And thanks for this tip. Anything is worth a try. I hope it works. Let me know if yours work. How nice that you have so many sets of silverware. I can see from a few that you've shown how pretty they are..Christine
Hey Lady...how are you feeling today? Better I hope...hope the breathing has gotten better....I can't share everyone's love of silver....I am sorry to say that I don't own not one piece...Keep on the mend...always thinking about you! Sue.
I only have stainless, Sally. I had one set of silver flatware and sold it. I can remember Granny saying something about tarnished silver being tainted and it should not used for food unless it was polished. I don't know anything about silver at all.
How are you feeling??
Hope you are feeling better everyday. I would never put the silver in the dishwasher. But I have never heard of the chaulk idea...let us know!
I saw that chaulk tip and wondered if it worked.
I don't put my silver in the washer but then I only use my good silver on special occassions and my monogrammed silver is for display. I have other cute every day silverware.
Manuela
I've enjoyed reading several of your posts today... from your wedding to Antiques Roadshow and all about your silver. We had a similar wedding and actually received some of the same scallop edge silver trays for gifts! I keep mine in a closed, glass doored cabinet so they can at least be seen; the doors cut down on their exposure to air so they have tarnished very little. Your flatware is beautiful; I love the photo with the antique carrier. I do wash mine in the dishwasher except for the knives, although I don't use it too often. My mother always said it would loosen the handles on the knives. I love all my old things but I'm not sure the younger generation will appreciate them or even want them!
I keep my silver in a silver chest where it doesn't tarnish. I wrap trays in Pacific cloth (bought at a fabric store) to keep it from tarnishing. I have heard you can put silver in the dishwasher just as long as it doesn't touch the stainless, but I prefer to hand wash it - it is worth taking care of. Linda
Hi Sally! I've missed you! Hope you're doing well. I have three silver chests I keep my silver plate in. Seems to do pretty well.
Thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
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