CARE & STORAGE OF CUTLERY

Silverware is for daily use, essentially in the form of tableware - cutlery, flatware and holloware. ie serving dishes, drinking vessels, tea and coffee services etc. These need a visibly clean, attractive, strong and inert metal for contact with food and mouth, and silver has always been and remains the best and most durable choice.

The best treatment for properly made silver is constant use. With this it takes on a patina from the myriad of scratches that scatter the light that falls on its surface in all directions. You get a depth of blue-black colour from the sanding, polishing and extensive preparation given to the best silverware and cutlery in the production processes, and the patina which develops from constant use enhances its appearance.

Felt lined drawers, cutlery cabinets and felt storage rolls are the best way of storing silver cutlery that is in constant use. These separate the knives, forks and spoons from each other and most of our cabinets hold each piece separately - this makes it easier to rotate the use of the pieces. Stacking cabinets, where the pieces are stacked on top of each other, are not recommended for silver and silver plate but are fine for stainless steel cutlery.

All good quality silver cutlery is dishwasher safe. However, dishwashers do not generally wash and dry particularly well, often leaving water stains on metal and crystal surfaces. If this offends, better results can be achieved by hand washing and drying. If food obstinately adheres to cutlery soak it in warm, soapy water for a while, never use scouring pads or powder. Knife blades should be wiped dry immediately after washing to avoid water stains.

Whether washing by hand or dishwasher, the best results are always obtained by drying immediately. In the case of dishwashing machines, this means removing the cutlery from the machine as soon as it completes its task. Cutlery will not harm by being left unwashed after a meal, simply leave it soaking in warm soapy water until it is convenient to wash it and dry it.

Tarnishing, caused by foodstuffs which contain sulphur, can be best removed by washing the cutlery by hand and - while it is still wet - wiping it over with a proprietary silver foam. Goddards, Hagerty and Town Talk are all good brands and can be purchased in a supermarket or hardware store, or direct from Lincoln House. The foam is supplied with a sponge for the purpose - then rinse and dry the cutlery. Silver dips are also suitable, but do not get any on the knife blades - or a stainless steel sink and draining board.

Overall, silver and good quality silver plate are very practical and hard wearing, and of course stainless steel cutlery is perhaps the best choice if you never want to clean silver. Most of our patterns are available in sterling, silver plate and stainless steel, so choose the one that suits your lifestyle the best!

Please contact us if you have any queries on silver, cutlery and the care of cutlery - and we will do our best to help you!