Will Garrison responded:

> Cleaning silver.
> I'm not so sure about the baking soda method, but would be interested
> in
> conservators' comments.
> We use the following method (with credit to conservators Julie Reilly
> and
> Debbie Long):
> 1. Use cotton swabs and mineral spirits.  This will not only cut all
> the
> accumulated gunk from previous treatments with commercial products,
> but
> will remove a lot of the tarnish.  Use ventilation.
>
>
The point about Will's suggestion and others like it is that ultimately
there is no silver left. The "TARNISH" used to be metallic silver and is
now some compound of silver caused by a chemical reaction that converts
it from silver to for example silver sulphide [the black you get from
using silver spoons to eat eggs]. Removing the tarnish leaves a nice
clean new silver surface waiting for the next suitable occassion to
become the next layer of tarnish. You can work out the end result for
yourslef. In the nd a plated object will need replating because theirs
so little left to become tarnish any more.

Peter Millward
Manager, Education & Visitor Services
Melbourne Museum
PO Box 666E,   Melbourne,   VIC  3000
ph 61 3 9651 8162      fax 61 3 9651 6378
mobile 61 418 326 667
email [log in to unmask]