Thrift Store Silver Plate & How I Clean It A Bit...

I was recently asked if I was in the "tarnish camp" or the "shiny camp."

Tarnish - all the way, baby. 

My reasons go deeper than the elbow grease required to keep things pristine, too. 

I LIKE the look of tarnish - it shows details you don't see on a totally shiny piece. It shows history.

Sometimes the places I shop don't bother to clean items. They can be very grungy. 

The tray below had some rusty looking stuff, white stuff, and even some green patina. I like green patina, but not for this piece.

I can buy undaunted because... I have the simplest, quickest trick to clean up a grimy piece while still satisfying my need for patina. 

Here it is:

Soapy steel wool pads - SOS or Brillo, usually.

I wet them, and scrub the grime off, revealing a bit of silver (and sometimes the copper underneath the plate), but leaving plenty of tarnish in grooves.

After a good scrub, I rinse well and dry with a towel until the piece is completely dry.

Here is a before:

The plate above is the same one pictured in the first photo. It had water rings, the price in wax pencil (I paid half-price) and general grunge. 

Here it is again, after a few minutes of steel wool and soap:

There is even an engraving. :)

Phi Kappa Theta

Christmas Party

1964

There is copper coming through the silver, but I don't mind. 

These days, I embrace the imperfect. No drama if something gets scratched that is already scratched. Party on and use the silver! Use the pretty towels, too.

Word for the Day:

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday