I've used Bonami as well as Bartender's Cleansers. I don't like the liquids as I find they're a bit more difficult to get out of crevices.

With due respect, patty cakes, PLEASE don't use abrasives on silver. Ever.

Silver is very soft. Even BonAmi, which is the mildest of them all, will scratch it up. Barkeeper's Friend also contains an acid, and is much too harsh for silver.

First, wash your set with hot water and dishwashing liquid, and rinse it well. Don't use anything rough to wash it - a regular sponge, or a handi-wipe, or a soft cloth, are all fine. No scrubby things.

Then clean it with a silver polishing product. I have used Wright's Silver Cream forever. It's a pink paste, it comes with a fine-textured sponge, you use it with hot or warm water to wash the tarnish away, and you can get it at the grocery store. Just keep gently rubbing with it until the tarnish gives way to the clean silver.

Then rinse it very thoroughly, let it drain a bit, and dry it thoroughly with a soft cotton dishtowel. Make sure it is perfectly dry before you put it away. I sometimes put a dry paper towel into the coffee or tea pots to make sure any moisture is absorbed.

Wright's is much easier to use, and easier on your hands, than the polishes that make you rub it on and polish it off - like Wenol or Maas. It also washes off, and doesn't leave any residue on things you use for food.

They key rules you must follow (listen to your mother here!) are, no abrasive products, no rough cloths or pads, be careful not to drop or dent it, and residual moisture is the enemy!

Congratulations! That is a wonderful pattern.

Wrights silver polish is pretty safe and easy to find. I would afterwards wash with dish soap any surfaces that make contact with food--I think it leaves a residual tarnish-resistant something on it which you'd want to keep on the outside.

So first wash it with really hot water and dish soap (cuz it's used!), dry it, then polish until satisfactorily shiny, wash off the polish with warm water (or whatever the directions say to do), and then remove the polish's anti-tarnish residue from the business parts with soap and water.

Thanks so much for your quick and thorough replies. I'm getting such a kick out of this little mid-winter indulgence. Can't wait to use it.

Wright's user here. Just rub hard enough to remove the tarnish, because too much polishing will remove the plate. Wash, Dry and enjoy.

ML

Congratulations on your purchase and enjoy using it! And listen to the good advice from bronwynsmom and fori. Wright's is the best. I too have used it forever and always have great results. Dish soap and water for the inside and for general cleaning of any food or to wash off residual polish and dry it thoroughly. At one time you could buy silver cloth yardage for storage if you were storing it in a cabinet or out of the way. It really helps keep the tarnish down. You can also buy bags for large items which might be useful.

Another Wright's user here - I also store my silver items in anti-tarnish bags.

I also use Wrights. Please, don't use anything rough or abrasive, as silver is very soft as previously mentioned. Silverplate is just that, silver plating over another metal. Tarnish is the oxidized top layer of the silver plating, so when you remove the tarnish, you are removing some of the silver plate, so keeping it from being very tarnished would be prudent.

Hopefully you will have your tea service out for display, but if you need to store it, you can find bags made out of Pacific Silvercloth to store it in or buy yardage and make your own. Easy to find with a Google search. Congratulations and enjoy your new find.

Yup. No abrasives! Wash with dish soap and water after polishing. Dry with a soft cloth. Dry. Dry. Handle with soft gloves or a soft towel if you are using for display only. I use Hagerty's Silver Foam, probably because that is what was used on my silver before I inherited it. Wright's is more readily available and very popular.

Please post a photo once you have it gleaming!

Yes -- another vote for Hagertys or Goddards -- always rinse with hot water and a small dash of soap for the interiors before brewing up a cuppa ....

I also use Wright's. I have also used Hagarty's. Either is great, imho. Also, once it is polished and washed, if you wash it regularly, you won't need to polish it nearly as often.

I think it is just wonderful that you have treated yourself and I hope you get much joy from it every time you use it! It makes me happy just thinking of you entertaining your friends.

Only Wrights polish here too. I learned that from my Mom. Enjoy your teaset! but be careful, I have developed an addiction to them, in whole or in part. I think teapots, and sugars and creamers look lovely mixed in with my books in my secretary. These have a patina to them. The whole tea set in my dining room is kept polished, but not used. I don't like using the tea pots!

I saw this earlier and was going to recommend Wright's, but for some reason, I couldn't log on. By the time I did, so many people had said Wright's that I decided not to respond.

But, just now as we were getting ready to go out, DH turns to me and says proudly, "I polished my belt buckle!" (It's sterling.) I asked if he used the Wright's Silver Polish, and he said no that he'd used toothpaste. Doh! Oh well, he gets an "A" for effort! I was reminded of this thread and had to share.

I hope you enjoy your tea service!

One thing to remember about polishing silver is that it's best to not remove the tarnish from the pattern as that helps define it. So when you polish just go lightly over those parts to clean the highlights of the pattern and leave the dark tarnish in the grooves.

I've used Twinkle cream for years since I read it rated as more gentle than Wrights. Good Housekeeping's tests rated it second only to Weiman Royal Sterling Silver Polish which I've not found in stores here.

Don't let your silver get really tarnished before cleaning. Best if it only needs a quick going over. If you use it often enough and wash with mild dish detergent and water it may not need polishing. Never soak any pieces with handles or they will be damaged.

If your sugar/creamer are lined with vermeil (gold washed) be careful with that as it's only a very thin layer which can be removed with vigorous cleaning.

Enjoy your new set and the fun tea parties you will now have! Do you have some pretty bone china tea cups? Don't expect everyone to understand, some may still want to take their tea in a mug! LOL

Another Wrights user here. I have occasionally used TarnX (two part system, first product cleans and second to rub on and buff off as a protectant) on non-food containers. I also love Brasso for brass but it's getting harder to find locally. Wrights is available at every grocery store.