Fingerprints can etch the surface of the silver and may not always be removable by polishing. Take extra care when wearing rings, watches and other personal jewelry which can scratch the silver. Remove loose-fitting bracelets and cover rings with gloves. Polishing, however, removes some of the silver from the surface and should only be carried out when necessary. A good environment and proper storage materials will reduce the occurrence of tarnish and the need for polishing.
Ammonia is emitted by certain paints, epoxies, adhesives and house-keeping products.
Polishing P olishing should only be undertaken prior to an exhibition and not as part of a regular maintenance routine. There are a number of commercial silver polish products available. Some of these contain heavy, abrasive grit or other damaging chemicals. While they appear very effective, these products may actually scratch the surface and remove excessive amounts of silver. Testing an individual polish on a sheet of unscratched Plexiglas will reveal the abrasiveness of that particular product.