CARE OF SILVERWARE The problems connected with the care of silverware are the daily clean ing, the daily and weekly polishing, the prevention of stains and discol orations, and the removal of these when formed. It is advisable to have a regular time for polishing silver each week, according to the conveni ence of the housewife. In many households this is done on Saturday with other cleaning, as a part of the general preparation for Sunday when guests are often entertained and it is desirable to have the silver looking its best.
To Pack and Store Silver.—Silver ware which is not in daily use should be protected from contact with the air, which often contains traces of sulphureted hydrogen or marsh gas. This is the great enemy of silver. It occurs in illuminating gas, sewer gas, and many other compounds, and con taminates the atmosphere. Retail jewelers prevent the discoloration of silver which is exposed for sale in shop windows by coating the articles with collodion diluted with alcohol. Col lodion may be obtained at • any drug store or from a dealer in photographic supplies. To apply it first wash the articles, dry them, and heat them slightly over the fire. Apply the col lodion with a wide, soft brush, laying it on in quick, even strokes.
Collodion is a very quick dryer, hence it is necessary to have all the silver heated and in readiness and to work quickly. Care must be taken to cover every part of the surface. One coating is sufficient. Collodion is perfectly transparent, hence does not injure the appearance of the arti cles, and may be removed by washing in hot water. This is perhaps the most perfect protection for silverware that has to be stored for any length of time.
Or pack the silverware in wooden starch boxes or other boxes of con venient size and cover them with dry flour. This will prevent them from tarnishing. When the flour is wiped off they will be polished and in readi ness for use.
Or prepare cloth bags or pockets for silverware. Use for this purpose unbleached outing flannel, cotton flan nel, or other unbleached goods. The bleaching powders and other prepara tions of chlorine used in whitening fabrics will discolor silverware.
Or wrap the articles in blue or other dark-colored tissue paper. White pa per, like bleached fabrics, contains chemicals which discolor silver.
Or wrap the articles in green baize, which does not attract moisture. Place in each pocket or drawer in which silver is kept a lump of gum camphor. This is the best preventive against tarnish.
The best material with which to line the drawers of serving tables, trays, or boxes for silverware, or of which to make bags or pockets, is chamois skin. If the outside of the chamois skin is treated with melted white wax or beeswax applied with a soft brush and afterwards run over lightly with a hot iron, it will be nearly air-tight.
Silverware Pockets. — The most convenient method of disposing of silver for daily use is a wide, shallow drawer in a serving table or sideboard, and with or without racks and trays to receive the individual pieces of sil verware. The drawer should be lined with chamois skin, velvet, or flannel, and the silverware ranged in it in or derly fashion.
Or silverware pockets may be made of outing flannel and tacked on the back of the cupboard or pantry door. Take a strip of material the width of the door and about 18 inches deep.
Fold the lower part upon the upper, leaving room for a wide hem or head ing at the top. Stitch down the fold ed part on the sewing machine, leav ing separate pockets for knives, forks, and other articles. Face the heading with a strip of canvas or other heavy material as a stay when tacking to the woodwork.
Or make a similar pocket with a lapel at the top instead of a hem. Fold or roll up in this the silver which is to be put away.
To Wash Silver. — To wash silver prepare suds with boiling water, in which dissolve about an ounce of hard white soap to a quart of water, and add a teaspoonful of soda. Into this put the silver pieces and boil them for a few minutes. Pour off the suds, pour over them clean boiling water, wipe them dry on a clean towel with out draining, and polish with a piece of chamois skin.