Tips for Preserving Antiques

By Melinda L. Wilson
Certified Appraiser and Consultant

Preserving your Silver

One of the many things I run into when appraising silver is that I find it wrapped in saran wrap or a rubber band has been wrapped around several pieces, etc. This will RUIN your silver. Saran wrap or any wrap like it as well as rubber bands will "eat" through your silver pieces. It will show marks and sometimes will not come off the piece. I know it is not fun to clean your silver. Tip: Go to a cloth store and ask for "Pacific Cloth". They will have it by the roll. If you wrap your silver pieces in this, they will not tarnish as quickly. It's the same cloth that silver stores sell or that pieces come in with individual holders for each piece. Those "pouches" are expensive. Save some money, and your silver, by going to the cloth store instead!

File Under:

Preserving Silver
Appraising Silver
Preserving Antiques