Rebecca,

You can tell the quality of the silver plating by trying to rub a bit of the
tarnish off with your thumb. If it was triple or quadruple plated then it
will rub off. I find the better made items to be silver over copper. Silver
over brass is usually seen in lower cost items. Victorian American silver
plate designated for the middle class market is often plated over nickel and
very difficult to clean.

If the item in question is badly tarnished and doesn't pass the thumb rub
test, I wash it first in hot soapy water and let it dry. Then use Tarnex
applied with a pure cotton ball and wash it again. Only use this product once
because it is very strong.  When it is dry use a silver cream applied with a
soft dry pure cotton cloth. Wash it again and let it dry a few minutes then
use another soft pure cotton lint free cloth to dry it totally. Let it sit
out awhile to make sure it is completely dry. I then put the silver plated
item in a soft flannel sack to store away. If the item is going to be on
display just wash it in warm soapy water, rinse it in hot water, and dry it
once every week if it is in contact with air or light and once every three
weeks to a month if it's not in direct sunlight or is in a case.

Note- only use a product like Tarnex once on the item(s) because it is very
strong. It shouldn't ever need another treatment if it is maintained. When
the silver is washed reasonably often it doesn't need a lot of polishing and
develops a nice patina. Polish again as needed.

I hope this helps you. Take care :-)
Theresa Christian
Acquisitions Manager
Captain Salem Avery Historic House Museum
Shady Side, Maryland

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