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• Silver
Polish Abrasion Ratings •
Updated
1.25.2021
Don't forget to read my Silver Care Guide!
• Additional Alloys •
Copper Polishes / Brass Polishes / Pewter, Aluminum & Steel Polishes
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You certainly wouldn't use an auto body grinder to polish your silver, would you?
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So why are you using products that could do similar damage? It's because they remove tarnish at light speed, right? Well, it's time to stop ruining your sterling and silver-plated objects and start treating them with the love and respect they deserve. It's ALWAYS best to spend more time polishing with a mild polish than less time with an abrasive one! Below are the results of products tested in my workshop for tarnish removal. There are currently NO silver polishes on the market that are non-abrasive, though, many proclaim to be. Below are hallmarks that were stamped on a 1760 Hester Bateman coffeepot. Notice how they have been worn down and are difficult to read because of the use of extremely abrasive polishes. Left to right: maker's mark (HB: Hester Bateman), quality mark (rampant lion: sterling), assay office (crowned leopard's head: London), date mark (C: 1760). If this pot continues to be poorly cared for, the marks may be illegible within a short period of time.
Steel wool was used on this coffee set. I polished the sugar and creamer to illustrate how the set will come back to life.
Occasionally cleaning an object is preferred to waiting until heavy tarnish forms and polishes have to be employed. (All polishes have some degree of abrasion.) You can catch tarnish in its earliest stage if you hold an object next to a piece of white paper. If tarnish has started to form, you will see a very light yellowish tint on the silver. Try removing this light tarnish with either diluted Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (citrus-free) or plant-based Better Life Dish Soap on a cellulose sponge, a 100% plant-based glass cleaner like Better Life Natural Glass Cleaner (my personal favorite), or aloe-free hand sanitizer on a cotton ball, makeup pad, or cotton towel. If the hand sanitizer leaves a residue, rinse it off with warm water or remove it with a moistened cotton towel, then dry immediately. If water doesn't work, use the dish soap. Try this technique first as it will remove absolutely no metal. Try using this glass cleaner on your jewelry and other metal objects as well. Below is a Tiffany sterling bowl that was cleaned with Better Life Natural Glass Cleaner (right). If tarnish remains use one of the Least Abrasive Silver Polishes in the next section.
Notice the difference in this grimy handle after using Better Life Natural Glass Cleaner and a light wiping with a horsehair brush. This is another instance where cleaning is preferred to polishing. Also, it would have taken added time to remove the grime with silver polish, especially in the low-lying areas.
See how your polish rates among many others – you may be VERY surprised! IMPORTANT! When removing tarnish, always invest more time using one of the least abrasive silver polishes in this section over getting quicker results with a more abrasive silver polish. Least abrasive polish that leaves no residue... • Herman's Simply Clean Collectors Silver Polish (rinse and dry) This is a great all-around polish. I especially recommend Herman's when polishing anything you eat off of, such as flatware, and any object that comes in contact with liquid, such as beakers and tea strainers. I recommend using Meguiar's Quik Wax as a tarnish protectant on the exterior of objects you drink from and all other items. Least abrasive polishes that deposit tarnish protection...
• Blitz
Silver Shine Polish (rinse and dry or let dry and buff,
brightens & protects) If you are using a moist cellulose sponge with any of the above polishes and have difficulty removing tarnish, use a large cotton ball or cotton makeup pad with the smallest amount of polish necessary. Rotate the ball or pad regularly to expose unused surfaces. This will compress the polish and work more quickly. You can see me using the dry cotton ball technique on these Revere pieces. If I had used Blitz Silver Shine Polish on the tray below, the polished side would look a bit glossier because of its tarnish-protective ingredient. Blitz is my favorite polish with a tarnish inhibitor because of its application options.
For purchasing information, go to Resources for Silver Care Products.
* Use Level 2 and 3 polishes at your own risk!
• Goddard's
Silver Polish Liquid (rinse and dry, brightens & protects)
• Hagerty's
Silversmiths' Wash (rinse and dry, brightens & protects)
The below products are so agressive they may even cut through silver plate to the base metal. Some are as abrasive as 0000 steel wool – seriously! And many of these products are not earth-friendy.
ALL
products that have "metal polish" in their name are much
too harsh. Oxidized brass, copper,
• 303 Metal Polish
• Maas Chemical Tarnish Removers (These are just a few of the products that will absolutely ruin the original finish on solid silver and silver-plate. They also allow tarnish to form more quickly.) Read about these dips here.
• Ellanar Dip
Instant Silver Cleaner The polishes below are not meant to be used on lacquered metal! Regarding ketchup: Though it's non-abrasive and does remove very light tarnish, ketchup is extremely acidic and may gradually etch and dull copper. You will then have to use one of the polishes below to brighten the surface. The polishes below are not meant to be used on lacquered copper!
Rated 1-3 (1 being least abrasive).
• Abrasivness
rating: 2
• Abrasivness
rating: 3
The polishes below are not meant to be used on lacquered metal!
Rated 1-3 (1 being least abrasive).
• Abrasivness
rating: 2
• Abrasivness
rating: 3
The polishes below are not meant to be used on lacquered metal!
Rated 1-2 (1 being least abrasive).
• Abrasivness
rating: 2 |
Space
Turn up the volume
to hear just how abrasive Brasso is!
Abrasivness rating: 1
