eBay My World: mwarg1( 296)

I have made it a mission to clean America's dirty silver one piece at a time. I always try to be fair and believe in delivering excellent customer service. I adore my dog and encourage everyone to adopt from a rescue/shelter. Save a life - get love!

Sterling Silver, Porcelain, Glass, Household items

Sterling Silver, Antique Porcelain, Electronics, Giftware

Antique Porcelain, Steuben, Swarovski, Waterford

English, Babelfish!!!

Painting, Drawing, Reading, Surfing the net, traveling, cooking, baking

Soft Rock, Oldies

Bones, Two and a Half Men, Ghost Whisperer, Gary Unmarried, Lots of Oldies, Cooking Shows, Antiques Road Show, Cash in the Attic (BBC)Charmed

It disappoints me to see the deteriorated condition that many silver pieces are in. Silver is easy to care for. Silver left to open air will tarnish quickly. If you want to display it, I suggest an enclosed case or china cabinet. If you are storing your silver, wrap in a cloth - - even paper towelling will do, then enclose in a plastic bag or zip lock. Never NEVER use plastic wrap. It creates a chemical reaction that will destroy your silver. If you have a felt bag, so much the better, but wrapping as described above will do. I stored a silver flatware service this way for 5 years and it only had mild tarnish when opened. If you are starting with clean silver, soap and water applied regularly (monthly) will do fine. Stored silver requires attention less often. If it has not been used, I would suggest an annual cleaning with Wright's or other brand of good silver polish. Never use bleach, scouring pads, cleansers, or other abrasives - don't laugh, I've seen it done.

I am a serious silver hobbyist - not a dealer. I love silver, and enjoy studying and researching it. Call me crazy, but I also love to clean it. The net result is worth the work. I like to rotate my silver collection, which is why I sell it.

If you are ever unhappy with a piece that you buy from me for any reason, please feel free to contact me first and return it. As soon as the item is received by me, you will receive a prompt refund - no haggling!

If you need silver advice or other information, you can contact me though eBay at any time. As I said before, I am not a dealer, but I love to talk silver.

If you let your silver go, sorry - - there is no other way than to buy a good silver polish, soft cloths, and be prepared to spend hours rubbing and buffing off the tarnish. A soft toothbrush is a good tool for tight spots and detailed edges. Leaving some oxidation in detailed areas is desirable because it brings out the beauty of the detail. I can tell you that it has taken us up to 8 hours to clean one small piece of silver. The work is worth it, though, when you see your treasure come back to life. Please use the contact seller button to write me if you have any specific questions. When you use your silver, clean and dry it immediately with warm soap and water and a dry cloth. While serving pieces are meant to be used, I would recommend against using acidic items on them. Also, empty all sugar, salt, and pepper shakers after use and wash. Items left in silver can be corrosive or impart stains to the silver over time. If your shakers are lined, still clean the top.

Many times I see items up for sale that read I did not clean because some customers like the patina. I carefully clean all of my silver before it goes up for sale and touch it up again just before mailing. I have yet to have a customer complain that it was too clean for them! Silver is meant to be shiny - regardless of age. Check out pictures of silver in palaces and castles. Is it black? Of course not. Silver however, does develop a patina over time which is not the same as tarnish. Patina occurs when microscopic scratches cover the piece from use and handling. It gives the silver a warm, rich glow. It enhances the silver item, looks beautiful and is very desirable. Tarnish is a chemical reaction of the silver with the surrounding air. Be wary when buying tarnished silver and silverplate because it can hide wear and damage. Very badly tarnished pieces may require the services of a professional. Removing tarnish in no way destroys the patina or the silver's value.