How to polish extremely tarnished silver tea set?

[Anonymous]

Any suggestions for polishing an old sterling silver tea set that has small blue/green spots on it? I have tried regular silver polish, vinegar and baking soda, hot water and baking soda, Haverty's silver dip and still can't get the spots out.

[Anonymous]

Did you try the hot/water baking soda with aluminum foil?

[Anonymous]

If it’s plated I wonder if you’re trying to fix places the plating has worn off.

[Anonymous]

Theres some magic way of boiling it with tin foil in it. Try googling for that, it's apparently super easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s plated I wonder if you’re trying to fix places the plating has worn off.

Yes sounds like silver plate rather than sterling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s plated I wonder if you’re trying to fix places the plating has worn off.

Yes sounds like silver plate rather than sterling.

My clue was green spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s plated I wonder if you’re trying to fix places the plating has worn off.

Yes sounds like silver plate rather than sterling.

My clue was green spots.

Yep, the green likely means it is some sort of copper alloy (brass maybe?) with silver plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s plated I wonder if you’re trying to fix places the plating has worn off.

Yes sounds like silver plate rather than sterling.

+1

[Anonymous]

Agree with silver plate theory.

Also know though that sterling silver is permanently stained by water if not promptly dried, and polish will not remove it.

[Anonymous]

If this is plated silver wearing off, you can get it replated.

[Anonymous]

The tin foil/hot water/baking soda thing fixed a necklace I thought was a lost cause. It took a few times but it’s like new again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with silver plate theory.

Also know though that sterling silver is permanently stained by water if not promptly dried, and polish will not remove it.

How can you find out for sure? I am pretty sure it's sterling b/c it's been in the family a long time but it's possible it got wet and didn't dry. It was with a family member who didn't take care of it and I am trying to salvage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is plated silver wearing off, you can get it replated.

It isn't worth the money to do this. Most silver plate has little to no resale value and you can find tons of it for next to nothing at thrift shops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with silver plate theory.

Also know though that sterling silver is permanently stained by water if not promptly dried, and polish will not remove it.

How can you find out for sure? I am pretty sure it's sterling b/c it's been in the family a long time but it's possible it got wet and didn't dry. It was with a family member who didn't take care of it and I am trying to salvage.

Does it say Sterling, 925, 9.25, or SS on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with silver plate theory.

Also know though that sterling silver is permanently stained by water if not promptly dried, and polish will not remove it.

How can you find out for sure? I am pretty sure it's sterling b/c it's been in the family a long time but it's possible it got wet and didn't dry. It was with a family member who didn't take care of it and I am trying to salvage.

American sterling will say "sterling" somewhere. European sterling will have some combination of assay marks (in Britain it's a lion) and maker's marks (hallmarks). You can look them up online to see who the silversmith is and where it was tested for % silver vs. nickel etc. https://www.silvercollection.it/dictionarydecryptingUKsterlingmarks.html