I'm a sucker for a yard sale, especially if I see the gleam of old copper, silver or marble sitting on a tabletop. Antique silver and copper are my passions – sterling silver hairbrush sets with marble trays, copper bowls and kettles, beautiful, heavy old silver and copper trays. They're substantial and weighty, and oh-so-classy and elegant. But more often than not, they've been sitting in an attic or cellar collecting dust and tarnishing for decades. That's great news for me, because it usually means that I can pick up a stunning heirloom copper or antique silver piece for practically nothing – simply because the owner doesn't want to deal with cleaning it up.

If you're like me and love the soft gleam of antique copper and silver, or if you have beautiful silver or copper heirloom pieces, here are some tips and tricks to bring out that soft glow, and keep your collectibles looking beautiful.

Cleaning Silver

1. Avoid using acidic solutions on silver or other soft metals. It can ruin any lacquer finish and etch into the metal itself. (That's right – DON'T use lemon juice and salt!) Instead, use a polish specifically made for cleaning silver to avoid damaging the metal.

2. Apply polish with a soft cloth, but don't cake it on too thickly around any ornate casting or carving.

3. Use cotton swabs to gently clean around engraving and molded borders.

4. Toothbrushes are for teeth, not fine silver. The bristles are too stiff and harsh, and might
scratch the metal. Instead, invest in a quality brush with soft, flexible bristles.

5. Buff gently with a soft cloth. Don't scrub away – you'll be slowly wearing away the details that make the fine engraving so lovely.

6. Avoid using water if you can, but when you do wash use lukewarm, soapy water, and dry immediately with a soft cloth. Moisture promotes tarnish.

How to Clean Tarnished Copper

Ketchup and lemon juice are fine for your copper bottomed pans, but decorative copper deserves gentler treatment. I've found that one of the best products for removing tarnish and oxidation (that green stuff you sometimes find on old copper) is a cleaner made for cleaning counters and ceramic cooktops. The gentle abrasive cleans away dirt that's settled into engraving without damaging any finish or scratching the metal. To polish old copper:

1.Spread film of counter cleaner over the metal.

2.Use a soft brush to clean around molding and engraving.

3.Let dry.

4.Buff away polish with a soft cloth, using the brush to clean away any polish that's caked around molding or in engraved lines.