Things to take care of when buying Elegant Silver Plated Flatware
Silver is quite a fascinating metal boasting of fine gloss and elegant characteristics. You might have seen the .999 fine silver or 999 stamped on an item, which is considered pure silver. The pure or fine silver is too soft to use in any jewellery or other silverware, so it is mixed with copper for rigidity. Typically, sterling silver is used in making jewellery and silverware that comprises 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Silver is blended with other metals to make designs, as pure silver is quite soft and malleable.
Many people order silver-plated flatware online with a look and feel of sterling silver. Now, this is important to understand that not every silver-plated cutlery is of fine quality. You must carefully lookout for certain things while purchasing one for yourself. When purchasing silverplated flatware, check for the hallmarks from the manufacturer. Although silver plated flatware is affordable, some of them can be as magnificent as sterling silver.
Do you remember what our grandparents used to say about cleaning silver? They said, “the best way to keep silver shiny is to use it regularly,” and it turns out that they were right. You might wonder how to clean your silverware without using commercial, chemical-laden products. Well, it is possible to clean your silver naturally by using some proven methods. The cleaning of silver-plated items includes the removal of black parts or spots and renew their luster. You can use many cleaning solutions available in the market or natural remedies to clean and make your silver plated items look brand new.
The following 2 are among the best natural ways to clean your silver plated flatware so that it will look as luxurious as the sterling silver:
You need baking soda, hot water, and a soft sponge for this method. Wet the sponge in hot water and squeeze it out. Then sprinkle a tablespoon or two of baking soda onto the sponge. Rub at the place of tarnished silver gently until it’s clean. After that, wash silver with warm soap water. Dry out it with a soft cloth.
For this method, use natural/organic toothpaste and a soft cloth. After that, spread a small drop of toothpaste on the tarnished area by using your finger. Rub it gently with a soft cloth. Repeat this if you feel necessary. Then rinse it well and dry it with a soft cloth. Through this method, even the repellent tarnished forks will get cleaned.
Understanding the Silver Plated Flatware
As the name suggests, the silverplated flatware is the item whose base is made of metal but plated with a thin coating of pure silver. It provides you with the look and the feel of sterling silver for a fraction of the latter’s cost. All silver plated items are subject to tarnish after some time. However, pure silver is not susceptible to tarnish. It alone is not used to make anything because of its incredibly soft nature. Therefore a pure silver is mixed with copper or any other alloy to make silverware or jewellery.
Tarnishing of silverware happens because of oxidation which is a natural phenomenon. The items made of sterling silver or silver-plated start developing a black coating on their surface after some time. The tarnishing of the silver does not destroy the underlying metal, and you can remove it easily.
However, there are certain ways by which we can slow down the tarnishing of our silver-plated item. A non-tarnish silver coating on the item will prevent the tarnishing of the product. Usually, pure silver and rhodium are used for the coating. Some of the elegant silver plated flatware looks as luxurious as sterling silver. The silverplated flatware doesn’t cost as much as the sterling silver; even cleaning them is pretty easy and cost-effective.
Verdict
By following some preventive measures, you can slow down the tarnishing process. For example, you can store silver in a way that limits its exposure to air and humidity. It is recommended to keep your silver-plated items in air-tight sealed bags. Proper handling of silver-plated flatware will also prevent its deterioration. If you wish to purchase beautiful and elegant silver plated flatware, order from All Silver Gifts. They have a wide collection of good-quality silverware that you will cherish in your hearts.