Silver cutlery
Tarnish is a chemical reaction with sulphur in the air, and every removal of it takes metal with it. On plate, that is a countdown.
Start here
What this is, what goes wrong with it, and where CleaningHQ can help.
Made from
What tends to go wrong
The only contaminant in this catalogue that is made of the surface it is on. Removing it always removes metal.
Why it is difficult: Coating thickness
What hard water leaves behind when it evaporates instead of being wiped away. A mineral film, not dirt, and the fix is at the drying stage.
Why it is difficult: Water hardness, Evaporative deposition
The science behind this: Polishing removes metal, Coating thickness
In detail
Silver tarnishes because sulphur compounds in the air react with it to form silver sulphide, a dark film. It is a chemical change in the metal rather than a soil deposited on it, which is why nothing that lifts dirt touches it. Removing tarnish therefore means removing the sulphide, and every method that does so removes some silver at the same time. The conservation guidance in this register is explicit that polishing removes metal, that silver plate carries a finite thickness over a base metal, and that frequency should be minimised for exactly that reason — a plated fork polished monthly has a predictable life. Sterling silver is solid and far more forgiving, though repeated polishing still softens engraving and can wear a hallmark. Two consequences follow. Prevention beats treatment: tarnish-inhibiting storage, dryness and less handling all slow a reaction that needs sulphur and moisture. And salt, egg and mustard accelerate it markedly, so cutlery used with them is washed and dried promptly. Silver should not share a dishwasher basket with stainless steel.
Related
- Silver cutlery is made from Sterling silver
- Silver cutlery is made from Silver plate
- Silver cutlery is commonly affected by Tarnish
- Silver cutlery is commonly affected by Water marks
Sources for this page
Sources
Caring for your collections: Silver and plate
The Institute of Conservation (Icon) · Trade or professional body
Relied on for: That tarnish is a reaction with sulphur compounds, that polishing removes metal, that plate carries a finite thickness of silver, and that polishing frequency should be minimised. (states this directly)
Verification: a person has read the passage relied on.
Read on — The tarnish, cleaning, and methods-to-avoid sections. Supports the claim as stated.
Conservation Information Sheet: Looking after silver
Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences (MAAS), via Museums & Galleries of NSW · Trade or professional body
Relied on for: That storage conditions and handling affect the rate of tarnishing and that preventive care reduces the need for polishing. (states this directly)
Verification: a person has read the passage relied on.
Read on — Silver components; Silver damage and how to reduce it, items 1-7; Recommended storage and display materials; How to clean silver. Supports the claim as stated.
Last reviewed by a person on .