The holidays offer a great excuse to haul out the finest tableware and linens. You know, the china handed down from your Grandma or the silver that’s been sitting in its box since your wedding.
If they haven’t been used in awhile, they may look a little bedraggled. Here’s how to spiff them up so you can show them off.
China and crystal
Delicate heirlooms should be hand-washed in warm water with mild dishwashing soap, Jane and Richard Long recommend in their book “Caring for Your Family Treasures.” To guard against accidental damage, they suggest placing a rubber or foam pad in the bottom of the sink before you start, washing the items individually and using great care. Rinse completely and dry with a soft towel.
Never wash unglazed ceramics, because they will absorb moisture that could stain them or cause them to soften and break, the Longs said. Don’t wash valuable ceramics or pieces with gold trim in a dishwasher.
Silver
Even carefully stored silver items will tarnish because of sulfur in the air. If the tarnish is just a light-brown film, the Longs said it can be removed by gently washing in warm water with a mild detergent. Don’t immerse hollow-handled pieces or objects with indentations that might hold water, they caution.
They recommend drying the items thoroughly with a soft cloth immediately after washing and using a dry corner of the cloth to put the silver pieces in their container without touching them.
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If polishing is necessary, avoid abrasive commercial cleaners or homespun remedies involving baking soda and foil, which can be too harsh. Jeffrey Herman, founder of the Society of American Silversmiths, suggests a mild cleaner such as Tarni-Shield or Twinkle, applied with a moist cellulose sponge.
Linens
Fragile or valuable linens deserve extra care in cleaning them. If they’re so delicate or old that they can’t be washed, try vacuuming them by covering them with a protective nylon or plastic screen and using the low setting, with open vents, on your vacuum cleaner, recommends Cheryl Mendelson, author of “Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House.”
For items that can be washed, merely soaking in plain, lukewarm water may be all that’s needed, she said. If the item is fragile, lay it on a nylon screen or in a plastic colander to immerse it in the water. After soaking, rinse in another bath of cool water.
If more cleaning is needed, she recommends adding some mild, neutral detergent, such as Orvus WA Paste, to the water.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])