Discover how to clean and maintain items comprising glass, silver-plating, polished stainless steel or metallic finishes. Do not place anything that has rough and sharp bases on a glass surface. Avoid scratches and water rings on tabletops by using coasters and felt pads.
Silver-plated items, Polished stainless steel and metal finishes
- Dust off polished stainless steel and metal finishes regularly with a feather duster or soft clean cloth. Remove stubborn stains with tepid water or a mild household cleaner. Never use hot water, caustic chemicals or adhesive removers. Avoid paper towels, squeegees, and the like.
Clean silver-plated items with a soft sponge with lukewarm water. Dip a clean cloth into silver polish and apply it in a thin film to the object. Gently rub the polish into the silver plating with a polishing cloth made for silver. Wash the item if it is to be used for serving food. Remove any excess silver polish with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild washing up liquid.
Clean polished stainless steel and metal finishes with diluted cleaner. Apply a small amount directly to a clean cloth and gently wipe the surface. If the finish is not altered or transferred to the cloth, continue with cleaning the rest of the product. Remove any cleaner residue with a clean cloth dampened with tepid water, then dry with a clean cloth. Do not let air dry.
Regularly polish metal finished parts with products that are made specifically for the care of polished metals, or with vinegar. For light polishing, dilute vinegar with water (1/2 cup of vinegar for every quart of water). Moisten a soft cloth in the diluted vinegar and polish the item. Use undiluted vinegar on items with heavy staining.
Glass and mirrors
Use appropriate glass cleaning solutions and a microfiber cloth for cleaning glass surfaces and mirrors. Don't use abrasives or cleaners containing ammonia or acid, since such products can destroy the silver backing and edges of your mirror. If you are using a chemical cleaner, take care not to spill it on any of the surrounding finishes. Never use abrasive materials as they may cause scratches on the surface.
First remove any dust and other non-sticky spills. Then spray water onto the surface with a spray bottle. Plain hot water works best since it leaves no streaks. Wipe the glass surface or mirror down with a microfiber cloth. Use straight vinegar to clean up spills or remove stubborn stains. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth. As a final step, use a piece of crumpled newspaper for an added sparkle. This removes any fluff and makes the glass shine.
