November? Already?
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
How did it get to be November? I mean, besides the calendar saying so and the Texas weather dialing it down a notch, the mornings are now dark. And this month brings the first holiday: Thanksgiving. I know a lot of people stress over this first holiday, and I can’t help with the family logistics, but I can help you get the house ready. And if you feel confident about that... well, the rest will fall into place.
Many of you have silver you only get out for the holidays. I get questions about how to clean your silverware and decorative pieces easily, and this is what I have found works well.
If you want to dip your silverware, Hagerty makes Flatware Silver Dip. It comes in a tall, almost 17oz container with a basket inside to suspend the silverware. Put your piece in the basket, let it sit in the solution for less than 10 seconds, then remove the basket and rinse under water. Then remove your piece and dry it with a soft rag. You can dip sterling silver and silver plate. It will bring your silver back to a pristine color; however, if you have factory blackening meant to accentuate scrollwork, it will remove that too. So, this isn’t a good choice for blackened scrollwork, but otherwise it’s fast and easy.
Another silverware-cleaning option is Hagerty Silver Foam. It comes in an 8 oz. container, and you will need to get a sponge to clean with. You can use it on silver, silver plate, and gold. Dip a liberal amount of foam onto the wet sponge and start washing your silver. Rinse completely and then dry with a soft rag. However, this product does not contain a tarnish preventative, so keep your piece covered or brush it with Hagerty Silver Duster.
For larger decorative pieces, you have several choices. One of my favorites is Hagerty 100. Hagerty 100 has an R22 tarnish preventative in the polish, so that after you polish, it stays cleaner longer. I love that idea for your big decorative pieces. The great part about this polish is how many different metals and other materials you can use it on. The packaging lists 27 different materials. From acrylic to vinyl, it cleans, polishes, protects, and restores. Directions are easy: apply a small amount of Hagerty 100 to a soft rag and start cleaning. Buff with a clean cloth. It will remove years of tarnish, dirt, corrosion, grease, lime, and water stains. The super-concentrated 4 oz. tube handles a dozen tough jobs and leaves a brilliant finish. It’s my favorite because of the R22 preventative and how easy it is to clean.
Hagerty Silversmiths Spray Polish works well on larger pieces with intricate designs that can not be rinsed. It works on sterling silver, silver plate, and gold. Spray your piece and let it dry. Then buff and polish with a soft cloth. No rinsing required. This spray also includes R22 protection. This helps your pieces stay cleaner longer. If the designs are really intricate and you can not use a soft rag to remove the polish, Hagerty also has a brush you can use.
Lastly, Hagerty has Silver Protection Strips. They are used inside enclosed silver storage or display areas. One strip should be used for approximately every square foot of area. Place the printed side down with the blank side exposed to the air. Replace strips every 6 months.
Hope this article helps you polish your silverware and other metals. As for family tension, if you have some, do what I do. Save a pie in the other refrigerator, and when they all leave, cut a piece and sit and have a cup of coffee with a splash of amaretto, a heavy splash.
Now to the email….
Question: My new car has leather seats. I have never had leather seats, so I'm wondering what you think would be a good cleaner?
Answer: The best leather cleaner is Howard’s. It removes dirt, grime, and body oil that can discolor the leather. Then maybe every couple of months, use Howard Leather Salve. It will keep the leather soft and supple. Especially since South Texas gets such intense heat. These two cleaners aren't just for the leather in your car; use them on leather sofas and recliners, leather purses and boots, and saddles and tack, and they work beautifully.