Owning Gorham sterling silver pieces in your collection is something to be proud of. The quality and beauty of this prestigious manufacturer has never depreciated over time. Maintaining its elegance with proper care should be done regularly to prevent deterioration and tarnishing.
Gorham silver makes wonderful sterling silver cutlery and hollow pieces; one of the most impressive collections that have inspired people is their tea sets. They were designed with many beautiful details; in fact, one of the designs went down in history. Mary Todd Lincoln had purchased an impressive tea set that was used in the White House in 1859. The tea service was presented to the National Museum of American History. That’s how valuable a Gorham piece is; so it deserves proper cleaning to maintain its beauty.
A properly maintained sterling silver collection will always be a source of enjoyment. This article will provide you with the different tips on how to clean sterling silver tea sets and other silver pieces.
A common problem with Gorham sterling silver or any other fine silver piece is tarnish. This is caused by contact with sulfur compounds in the air. It is also aggravated by wool, felt, fossil fuels, rubber bands. Latex gloves and even foods like eggs, onions, and mayonnaise. Tarnish formation occurs rapidly in a humid environment. Even oily salts from your fingers can cause a corrosion pattern that needs to be removed by a professional.
When washing a piece of silver, you must be careful and make sure to dry it immediately. You can use a phosphate-free detergent with no lemon scent and a soft cotton kitchen cloth to dry it. While washing, do not allow parts to come into contact with the metal sink as this will cause scratches.
Once you’ve noticed a yellowish tint, you should be alarmed that tarnish is starting to develop. This is the best time to intervene because as it goes from light brown to black, it becomes more difficult to remove it. You can check for early tarnish formation by looking at the object against a white sheet of paper. Once you see very light tarnish, you can use Windex with vinegar or a non-abrasive, fragrance-free liquid aloe vera hand sanitizer. Using a cotton ball, roll it gently and evenly over any exposed unused surfaces, then dry the piece with a cotton kitchen towel. This is by far the least abrasive technique for cleaning a silver piece.
Once your Gorham sterling silver tarnishes, you will need to use a commercial silver cleaner. There are some available in the market that offer tarnish protection. It is essential to use the least abrasive product. Polishes that come in washing liquid can be less abrasive due to their ability to suspend polish ingredients.
Always make sure to keep the polish container closed and never use a product that has dried out. The content of the dry polish becomes concentrated and can damage the silver piece. It is never recommended to use steel wool, scouring pads and scouring pads because they are usually very abrasive.
If you noticed a purple stain on your game after cleaning it, don’t mistake it for tarnish. Removing such a stain could depreciate the value of your Gorham sterling silver. The purple stain is called fire stain, it is an oxidized copper that can be found in pre-colonial pieces until the beginning of the 20th century. This fire stain may not appear until after several years of polishing and you can consult with a restorative goldsmith to make the right decision on your pieces.
It is very important to note that toothpaste should not be used to clean the silver piece because some may contain baking soda which can be extremely abrasive. You must use polishes that are specific for removing tarnish from silver.
Owning valuable possessions like a sterling silver Gorham needs some TLC. It is essential to take care of them because their value increases as they age. It’s easy, it can even be nice to do it. There is no doubt that owning fine silver pieces will bring you joy for years to come.