Stained silver plated cheese knives

[shivvy]

I bought this set of cheese knives a few months ago

http://www.theorigina...552&ddkey=http:Search

After using them over xmas I noticed that after they had been washed, marks still remained on them. I phoned the company and they advised me to clean them with silver polish. I did that but although it made them shinier, the stains remained on them.

Can anyone advise what I could try next?

[Alagopus]

You could try rubbing gently with some bicarb paste (or even toothpaste).

[trt]

Why buy special cheese knives. I use an ordinary knife for my cheese with no stains and no probs but, there again I'm not posh!

[shivvy]

Pinklady - the stains look as if they have been left where the cutlery was in contact with the cheese. I'm pretty sure they aren't watewr marks. I have been doing a bit of googling and a lot of sites talk about tarnishing but that looks very dark which isn't what is happening with me.

Thanks Alagopus - I'll try that. When you say bicarb paste, do you mean a bit of bicarb of soda mixed with water?

Really helpful trt - I presume that you haven't a clue how to answer my question so you decided to post a totally useless reply instead?

[Alagopus]

Yes, sorry should have been more explicit. :-)

[Invictas]

If silverplated cutlery has been in prolonged contact (use) with vinegar or citric acid (lemon juice etc) it can cause stains that may never been removed.
I hope it's not,but just a point.

[boxtops]

How did you wash them, shivvy? I put a silver knife in the dishwasher by mistake once, stained it black quite badly.

[Invictas]

PS:~
Goddards Silver Dip is great,if that won't shift it nothing will.
Another thought,I hope that these "stains" are not actually the base metal under the silverplate coming through?
This can happen when the previous owners have been too energetic with their polishing.

[AlBags]

Just remember .. Every time you clean, be it with chemical, dips, polishes, pastes .. you remove some of the plate.

[Dee Sa]

cant find Goddards silver dip anywhere even Lakend hasnt got any but bought tube of silver cleaner from Lakeland for £8, its very good and you only need a tiny bit.

[shivvy]

Thanks Invictas - they are newly bought so it shouldn't be the base metal coming through. As far as I am aware they have only ever been in contact with cheese - surely that shouldn't mark them? I have used Goddards Long-term Silver polish but as I say it made them shinier but didn't remove the marks.

Boxtops - I don't think they have ever gone through the dishwasher.

Albags - yes, I'm worried that if I keep cleaning that it will do more harm than good.

Dee Sa - if I could be reassured that I'm not doing harm by continuing to polish them then I will try the Lakeland polish.

Maybe I should take a pic and send it back to the supplier to see what they advise now that the polish hasn't worked?

[seadogg]

We have a set of silver cake forks (not posh, heirloom) which were badly stained. Goddards did the trick but careful cleaning with very soft cloth and a little bicarb keeps them O.K.

[shivvy]

Thanks seadogg. Does the cleaning take off stains and/or marks, or does it remove tarnishing?

As a general point, I think I might be confused between the two. My understanding is that tarnishing is a blackening that occurs over time and reminds me of the silverware that my grandmother used to polish for hours! However I wouldn't say that this new cutlery set is tarnished and when the polish didn't remove the stains I wondered whether the silver plate had been permanently damaged as some of the other posters have suggested.
Therefore I suppose I need to know what the problem is befofre I know what the rememdy is . . .

[seadogg]

They were badly tarnished when we inherited them and the Goddards helped. Best thing you can do is use them and use the soft rag and moist bicarb afterwards, thoroughly drying.. Some idiot bought us a Stilton spoon so here we go again lol.

[shivvy]

Thanks seadogg and Alagopus - I'll give the bicarb a go.

[follyfancier]

you could try bicarbonate of soda