Cleaning advice for gold wash sterling spoons

[Guest]

Greetings from Maine - I recently got quite a few pieces of sterling (clearly marked all) that have gold wash bowls. Unfortunately they also have tarnish - not patina but black tarnish . Is there any way to clean the gold wash areas without damaging the gold wash?

Please forgive me if this is in the wrong area but I had absolutely no idea where it should go. Warm wishes to all, Elizabeth
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[euroholic]

Hi Elizabeth. Very tarnished silver can be successfully cleaned by using Simichrome Polish or Wenol Polish. Only one hardware store in my area carries these. Replacements Ltd. also sells these 2 types of polish. It is easy to use...you just apply with a cloth and then polish with a clean cloth. No water needed. I collect old sterling and silverplate (some with gold wash bowls) and use this on them. I would use this lightly as it cleans all of the tarnish off older pieces making them look very, very new and shiny. (I don't want my older pieces to look brand new!)
Good luck...
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[SilverSurfer]

I don't know about Wenol, but Simichrome is a very fine hard grit polish which, if rubbed, will scrape away the tarnish (and gold wash as well). I suggest trying Tarn-X first, which is a liquid with no grit that chemically reduces black silver sulfide to metallic silver. However, once reduced, the previously sulfided silver will be sitting on the surface as a micro-spongey layer, leaving a whitish, chalky cast. This may be removed by careful polishing with Wright's or similar high grade silver polish. This two-step approach may remove some of the gold wash as well, but likely not as much as by simply scrubbing in the first place with an abrasive polish. If you do use Tarn-X, be sure to wash the residue off completely, it is NOT a preservative! The chemical reducing agent, thiourea, is held in a sulfamic acid solution, and the acid will turn around and attack the silver if left on as a residue.

SS
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[admin]

Personally, I think much of the beauty of antique silver has to do with its ability to oxidize, especially on pattern ware, repousse and engraved work. Silver dips strip all of this, kill the contrast and, to my eye, leave the piece looking dead. I have no particular recommendation for a polish, but generally, low or non abrasion pastes are a good choice - as long as you wash away all traces of the white or pink residue when done.

Regards, Tom
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[Guest]

Thank you all! I do agree that so much of the beauty lies in the patina and depth created by it. I just have some really ugly black spots on the gold wash pieces and wanted to not make matters worse. I think I'll end up with the 2 step process since the polish I usually use is Wright's. The Simichrome sounds like one I would like to try on some REALLY tarnished pieces (Mom attached them with rubber bands :( and they are a mess!).
Again, thanks to all & Happy Spring!
Betsy
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[SilverSurfer]

Yes, Tom Admin, I agree that deeply recessed pieces (as repouse) should not be "dunked" in Tarn-X or other reducing agent so as to eliminate all the deep crevice sulfidation. However, from the description, I assumed that the question was with regards to flatware. I would still recommend Tarn-X for heavily sulfidized holloware, but only as carefully swabbed onto the high points, and not slopped into the crevices. Just a step beyond my original answer, given the consideration you raised.

SS
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