“We get a lot of consumer calls and letters on how to ‘undo’ a damaged piece of silver,” said Alison J. Gutterman, COO of Jelmar, makers of Tarn-X Tarnish Remover and Silver Glaze. “The best advice that we can give consumers is to know what caused tarnish and to give their silver a consistent care program.”

The biggest myth among consumers, says Gutterman, is that tarnish is caused by exposure to air, and therefore silver should be hidden away in cupboards and sideboards until ready to use. “The opposite is true — the more frequently you use your silver, the less it will tarnish,” says Gutterman.

“Tarnish is actually the result of a chemical reaction between the silver and sulfur,” she explains, “and trace amounts of sulfur occur everywhere, including in the air.” Consumers might be surprised to learn that sulfur is a natural by-product of heating fuels and gas used for cooking — both of which have their heaviest usage during the winter months. Sulfur is also naturally present in many foods. The familiar dark spots that peas often leave in silver serving dishes, for example, are caused by the sulfur in peas. Although it’s harmless, tarnish gives silver a dark, unpleasant appearance.

Another threat to silver comes from flowers — silver reacts to the acids and sap from flowers. A silver piece used as a vase for a cut flower arrangement or to hold a plant needs protection.

While silver pieces that are actually in use are less likely to tarnish, Gutterman points out, they are exposed to greater risk of damage in handling. Silver pieces should always be washed individually by hand, and never in the dishwasher because the detergent film may build up. Here is the three-step care program recommended by the Tarn-X experts:

* First Step: Hot, Soap-and-water Wash.

The first line of defense with any silver piece, whether sterling or silver plate, is to remove dirt and grime by washing each piece in hot soapy water and drying it thoroughly immediately after each use. Frequent use and washing lessens the ability of tarnish to form. You need hot water and soap to remove dripped wax on a silver menorah, for example, or the dirt, dust and grease that build up on the surface of silver bells hung from the doorway. Don’t be alarmed if you see some tarnish developing on the tines of your silver forks, even though they are frequently washed. The points often tarnish because of their almost-constant contact with food.

* Second Step: Removing Tarnish.

This is actually the easy part. Simply apply Tarn-X with a soft cloth, wiping it on the clean piece of silver, and it will remove the tarnish; the mild “chemical” odor is actually from the sulfur coming off the silver. Don’t rub — rubbing is not necessary, and may be harmful to the silver. If the tarnish is extremely heavy, use a second application. Unlike silver polishes, Tarn-X is faster acting, less messy and less abrasive to silver. This is the key to preserving your silver — remove the tarnish, but limit the frequency of polishing silver, as all polishes remove some of the silver.

After the tarnish is removed, rinse the piece completely, this time in cold water, and immediately dry it thoroughly to avoid spots. Don’t use hot water for this wash, as it might cause some streaking. For larger pieces, Gutterman suggests applying tarnish remover and rinsing one section of the piece at a time.

* Final Step: Polish with Silver Glaze.

This finishing touch will show your silver at its best, and will help minimize the effect of wear spots and other mars. Be wary of products that combine tarnish remover and polish, as excessive rubbing and buffing can damage the silver.

“With this simple three-step process, you can bring your silver up to its finest appearance without a last-minute rush, and get the fullest enjoyment from it all through the year,” says Gutterman.

For more tips on caring for your silver, visit www.jelmar.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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They do and you can, too. It’s nice to bring out a pretty silver serving tray to brighten a party table. Popular silver gifts that don’t end up in the cabinet like picture frames, candlesticks and even your silver jewelry are items you’d like to use, too, and you’d like them to be as clean and sparkly as when you got them.

Here are some tips for using and caring for your silver items:

* Remove candle wax — Simply run hot water over the waxy area. The softened wax should be easy to pry off with a finger — never a sharp object.

* Wash and dry — Wash the item by hand with warm water and a gentle dishwashing soap, but don’t soak the silver for any length of time. Rinse the piece well and dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth.

* Prepare for removing tarnish — Wear plastic gloves rather than rubber (rubber can react adversely with the silver and cause discoloration). Use a soft cotton cloth or sponge to work the silver cleaner over the piece, following the cleaner’s directions.

* Polish or cleaner — Whether you choose cleaner or polish, it’s a personal preference and for many, time is of the essence. There is one solution — Tarn-X tarnish remover — that quickly and easily removes tarnish with no rubbing or scrubbing.

Tarn-X removes tarnish from sterling silver, silver plate, platinum, copper, gold and cleans diamonds. It’s a tarnish remover that’s been trusted with fine silver products for 40 years. Simply wipe it on and rinse off with cold water. Dry it with a soft cloth, and that’s it!

* Cleaning jewelry — Dip it, rinse and dry. Suddenly your jewelry looks like new and you can wear it again.

“My jewelry box is full of silver jewelry that I bought 20 years ago and considered getting rid of because I never wear it anymore,” says Miriam Lambertz, of Minneapolis, Minn. “I used Tarn-X on a very special bracelet that I can wear again now, and it only took a minute to come clean.”

Wear your old silver jewelry proudly with your new jewelry. When fine jewelry and diamonds need cleaning, it won’t be a big, time consuming project. You can clean your jewelry while you’re getting ready to go out, and your jewelry will look as fresh as you do.

Remember these other tips for silver service care:

* Display safely — A glass-enclosed cabinet works well. Camphor blocks can be added to the cabinet to help prevent tarnish, without actually touching the silver. Find them where new silver pieces are sold. If the silver you inherited from your grandparents is tucked away, now you can display it because cleaning with Tarn-X is so easy.

* Using silver — Certain foods with a high acidic content will stain and pit fine silver. Use a plastic liner to protect the finish.

* Store safely — Wrap each piece with acid-free buffered tissue, or washed cotton, linen, or polyester or specially made silver cloths. Do not use wool, felt, chamois leather or newspaper, which can cause excessive tarnishing.

For more information about Tarn-X and other fine silver care products, visit www.jelmar.com. As with any Jelmar product, they offer a full money back guarantee.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

For more information contact Adrienne Gibbons, director of marketing and advertising at Jelmar. She can be reached at: (847) 675-8400 or Adrienne@jelmar.com.

Tarn-X is a registered trademark of Jelmar, Inc.

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