 Washing
Silverplated flatware should be pre-soaked immediately following its removal
from the table. Be sure that it is not allowed to remain in the water too
long before washed. After pre-soaking, wash your silverplate in hot water
and a good non-abrasive soap or detergent. Use extreme caution in selecting
your cleaning agent, making absolutely sure there are no abrasive qualities
in it, which might damage your flatware. A word of caution- it is in the
pre-soaking that improper use of detergent or compound causes discoloration
and corroding of stainless steel knife blades. This is particularly true
if an aluminum pan is used. Except when de-tarnishing, use a plastic or
stainless steel pan for pre-soaking.
Rinsing
The clean flatware should be rinsed in water of at least 180oF. A wetting agent
may be added to the rinse to prevent minerals in water from staining your
silverware. Make sure this wetting agent contains no chemicals harmful to
silver. Should you have very hard water, a softener is recommended.
Handling
Perforated cylinders in a portable rack- suitable for sink or dishwasher use-
make it possible to wash, transport and dispense flatware with a minimum
of handling. In a system where flatware is washed and stored in the same
cylinder, the flatware should be sorted in the cylinders utensil side down
to prevent hand contamination after cleaning.
In a system where the flatware is transferred from a cleaning
cylinder to a storage cylinder by inversion, it should be sorted
into the cleaning cylinder utensil side up, so that it will eventually
be stored utensil side down.
 De-Tarnishing
De-tarnishing removes sulfurization, and keeps silverplate gleaming. It is
advisable to de-tarnish after washing (not during pre-soaking), always prior
to burnishing. Pieces should be de-tarnished about every 15 days. There are
a number of commercial preparations on the market to do this job. They are
a convenient, efficient way to de-tarnish silverplate. Consult with a reputable
detergent manufacturer as to their recommendations. In every case, the directions
should be followed carefully. The reason for this is that all de-tarnishing
agents contain some chlorides that can harm silver, when over concentrated,
or over exposed.
A less convenient, but effective, and inexpensive de-tarnishing
solution can be made by placing one tablespoon each of salt and
baking soda in one gallon of boiling water in a clean aluminum
vessel; or one lined with aluminum foil. It is imperative that
knives with stainless blades be removed from the de-tarnishing
solution within 30 seconds. The de-tarnishing action tends to discolor
or corrode stainless steel if left in for a longer time.
Burnishing
There are fine vibratory or tumble-type burnishing machines on the market,
manufactured in sizes to fit any operation. The dollars invested in this
piece of equipment pay excellent dividends in sparkling, customer-pleasing
flatware and increased wear due to the hardening and scratch-removing action
of the burnishing process. As with any other piece of fine equipment- keep
your burnisher clean and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Your burnisher
will then give you many years of sparkling flatware; a luster which can be
achieved by no other means.
Note: DO NOT BURNISH KNIVES... it dulls the cutting edge of the
blade. In addition, mechanical burnishing of hollow handle knives
can cause permanent damage by loosening or breaking the bond between
the handle and the blade.
 Storage
Provide adequate space, preferably away from tarnishing effects of the kitchen.
Make sure that the flatware is clean when it is stored. When stored under
such conditions, it will be clean whenever you use it.
Low-Temp Dishwashing- CAUTION!
If you are using a low-temp or chlorine bath type tableware washing system,
take great care in following the manufacturer's instructions. Improper use,
especially faulty rinsing or sanitizing, can cause staining or corrosion
of even the finest flatware. |
