Can you feel it in the air? It’s (almost) springtime! Blooming flowers, warming weather, and baseball are right around the corner.
For many of us, this also means it’s time for spring cleaning and pulling out those things in our home that could use a little attention. We’re looking at you, dishwasher, and, of course, our silver collection.
Our antique silver is a precious commodity, and without consistent, thorough care, it will simply not last. While we recommend that our clients clean their silver frequently, many don’t look again until the day before the next celebration.
Let’s change that up, friends! Spring = Shiny.
Many of our regulars take a day in March to look over their silver collection. They check the finish condition, if any knocks need fixing, or if a handle needs some repair.
This time allows us to preserve our valuable heirlooms, bring a forgotten piece back to life, and consider if we still want that certain something that’s been in the back of the cabinet for a couple of years. (Don’t throw it in the garbage can! Here’s how to dispose of the silver that you don’t want anymore.)
To make your life easier and honor the thing we all love most – antiques – we created a checklist for your silver spring cleaning:
#1. Look for any major damage
First things first, examine your antique silver for signs of serious damage.
Serious damage includes black spots, excessive tarnish, corrosion, or pieces that have broken handles, lids, embellishments, etc. Trust us — you’ll know when you see it. (Corrosion, for instance, can look like crystallized green or a very dark back. It’s undeniable!)
A lot of damage occurs when silver hasn’t been properly stored, like after the holidays. You may be dealing with the fallout from that. If you used plastic wrap on your silver to protect it, you’re going to need some help. (And, please don’t do this again.)
Make a “Go to Biro’s” pile. Call us with questions or bring it in. We’re happy to help.