How to care for antique silver

Antique silver rewards use. The soft glow it develops over years of gentle handling and careful cleaning — the patina — is part of its beauty, and the good news is that keeping it lovely is mostly about restraint. Here’s how to look after it.

Use it — it likes to be used

Silver that’s handled and washed regularly tarnishes far less than silver shut away in a drawer. Don’t save it for best; a well-used piece stays brighter with less effort.

Wash by hand, never in the dishwasher

Warm water, a little mild washing-up liquid, a soft cloth, then dry immediately and thoroughly — damp is silver’s enemy. Keep it well away from the dishwasher, whose heat and harsh detergents will dull and pit the surface, and never let it sit next to stainless steel in the bowl.

Polish rarely, and gently

Every polish removes a whisper of silver, so do it sparingly. Use a proper long-term silver polish or an impregnated cloth, rub gently along the piece (not in circles), and take care around hallmarks and engraving — over-polishing softens crisp detail and erodes marks, which genuinely reduces value. Skip abrasive creams and never scrub.

Mind certain foods

Egg, salt, olives, mustard and mayonnaise all tarnish or corrode silver quickly. Rinse salt cellars and mustard pots straight after use, and don’t leave anything acidic sitting in a silver dish.

Store it away from the air

Tarnish is simply silver reacting with the air. Anti-tarnish cloth, bags or strips slow it right down; acid-free tissue is fine too, but avoid ordinary cling film or rubber bands, which can mark the metal. Stored well, silver needs cleaning far less often.

Decorative silver and metalware pass through the showroom regularly — take a look at thecurrent collection, or read our guide tohow antiques are valued if you’re wondering what a family piece might be worth.