Anonymous wrote:Why

Never - we don't own any real silver, because I'm never going to polish it.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone purchase sterling flatware anymore? Or do people just inherit it down the family line?
My mother had a sterling set that was probably a wedding gift (1960) and I don't think we ever used it. My father sold the set after Mom passed. It was probably in immaculate condition.

It's rare and quite expensive now for new sets. Aroudn $15,000 to $40,000+ depending on the maker.
Older sets can be had for as little as $3000-$5000 for a small set though or incomplete set.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, of course we use it everyday, we don't use flatware. It's all silver.

I have our kitchen staff ensure it's polished weekly.

Joke aside, you have a point that real silver is high maintenance and must be hand washed and polished.

It is not high maintenance if you know what to do. I put mine in the dishwasher and use plain detergent. You just have to make sure it doesn’t touch non silver items. That makes it tarnish. And handling it often helps too.

Washing in the dishwasher often gives silver a "flat" look without the sheen, and it can remove the darkened/shaded intricate details.

No, it does not. Definitely not. I’ve now been doing it for two + years, every single day. There are rules you have to follow (#1 is NO TOUCHING OTHER METAL ITEMS) but if you follow the rules, your silverware can be washed in the dishwasher and look beautiful. I happen to have an intricate pattern as well btw

https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/house-rules-cleaning-silver-dishwasher/

I'm sorry to say, but over time it won't look the same as handwashed sterling.

Anonymous wrote:I got my great grandmothers silver appraised and it was 15k. Unfortunately my siblings refused to sell it.

I'm glad someone in your family cares about something so very special as your great grandmother's silver.

I got my great grandmothers silver appraised and it was 15k. Unfortunately my siblings refused to sell it.

We use sterling silver flatware daily and crystal.

I have three sets of sterling silver flatware. When kept in a silver chest, it doesn't tarnish. If you wrap your sterling trays and dishes in flannel, they don't tarnish. (maybe if untouched over decades?). Trays, coffee services, wine coasters that you leave out in the air will tarnish. The sugar shell left out on a tray. YouSometimes napkin rings. I'm still talking about sterling, not plate.

I use sterling flatware everyday. Everything in the dishwasher except knives. Maybe twice a year, spoons or forks look a little dark and I just wipe them with a bit of Wrights silver cream... rinse and put in dishwasher. I keep out only what used daily, so those knives, forks, spoons get washed daily. Older women used to tell me "if you use it, it won't tarnish". Maybe that's what they meant.