Silver, like gold, is chemically inactive which means it doesn't oxidize when exposed to air, but its surface tarnishes from exposure to certain gases in the air. Therefore, if air is kept away, the tarnish is diminished.

Other enemies of silver are pollution, perspiration, table salt, eggs, olives, salad dressings, peas, gas, sulfur, vinegar, fruit juices, perfumes and toilet water. Don't let any of these come in contact with silver for long. Sea air and leaking gas tarnish silver very quickly. Watch your fruit and flower bowls, because the acids generated by decaying flowers, leaves and fruits will etch into your silver, causing ugly little pit marks.

Empty silver salt dishes after each use, or the salt will pit them, causing permanent damage. Also, if you use silver candy, nut or serving dishes, wash and dry them thoroughly afterward to remove all possible damaging food residue.

Store polished items in drawers or containers lined with Cape Cod^® Silver Cloth or other flannel treated with anti-tarnish protection. Do not wrap silver in felt or chamois leather. Both are sources of hydrogen sulfide, a strong tarnish inducer. Never wrap plated silver in newspaper. Printer's ink will act in time to remove the plating. Never secure any wrapping with rubber bands. Rubber, a deadly enemy of silver, can corrode it in a few weeks through several layers of paper or flannel. Best not to have rubber in the same drawer or container.

Sterling Silver is a term used to specify that the metal contains at least 925 parts of silver to 75 parts of copper. Pure silver is rarely used, as it is too soft. The term "Sterling" is derived from an English penny, coined in the Middle Ages. "Sterling" became the standard for British coins.

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for keeping silver bright. Metallurgists have worked for years to produce a stainless silver, but without luck so far. So if you want your silver to look its best you are going to have to give it a reasonable amount of care.

Wash you silver promptly after each use with hot suds. Rinse in hot water and dry immediately. If you follow this procedure, you won't have to polish often. When using your silverware, rotate it in daily use so that the finish will mellow uniformly. Wear Cape Cod^® Touch-Up Gloves when setting the table or whenever handling silver items to ensure against fingerprints and light tarnish. Silver does not have to be polished each time it is used.

There are several methods of cleaning tarnished silver but hand rubbing them with a pre-moistened Cape Cod^® Metal Polishing Cloth is best. The cloths have been impregnated with a very gentle polish in exactly the right amounts. They leave no excess in crevices as pastes or liquids do. To polish your silver, take time to do it carefully. To protect your hands wear gloves if you like. Rub each piece briskly, but not hard, using even, straight strokes. Wipe dry with a Cape Cod^® Buffing Cloth or soft paper towel. You may wash flatware and other pieces you eat from in a mild detergent after polishing.