If you have any silver with any sort of design, con't use the dip method...it will remove all the oxidation fropm the design and make it look like chrome.
I like International or Wrights...wash the silver with dish soap then rub with the polish, rinse and use a soft towel to dry.
Linda c

Hi F,
NEVER use chemical dips!!! I SWEAR by Wrights Silver Cream (actually a paste that comes in a small "tub", gotten in most grocers' markets). Rub on, rub off. A toothbrush also comes in handy (soft-bristle only). Silver cleaners of every name, I have used them all. I recommend it enough that I stock up loads when I visit the US a few times a year. "MAAS" cleaner is a close second, but I do not like the "anti-tarnish" film it leaves ... it dulls the shine to me.
If you are cleaning many pieces you can cheat by lining the sink or a small basin with aluminium foil, lay them in so there with as much contact to the foil as possible, pour in half to full cup liquid enzyme laundry soap and add hot water to cover. Then leave it, checking progress. If they are heavily soiled just repeat.
Good luck!
baer

AMEN Linda!
MAAS is not good IMHO.....It's a mess to work with, dulls the shine, and after a period of time, develops a waxy yellow surface sludge that is hard to clean off!!
Also be careful with the foil in the sink trick....it has been known to clean all too well and it's hard to polish patina back onto silver :^)
Just bite the bullet and clean it with a good cream; like Baer, I like Wright's the best...then USE the stuff!!! It LOVES to be used and will shine it's little heart out for you!

Hi, This may not be good for polishing some silverware, but I make jewelry using Bali Silver beads and I found that if my bracelet has tarnished and is dull when I want to wear it....I squeeze ketchup on the bracelet, rub it around in my hand and it's shiny and sparkling again...and QUICK.

For fine silver, I prefer Seed's "Merit Polish". Restoration Hardware used to carry it, but now I order it online. I've used most of the major brands of cream polishes & they all give similar results IMO.

I would NEVER use a dip to clean my silver. The only exception might be for fork tines that were left dirty with egg yolk or other food that caused extreme oxidation. Even then, I would probably use Semichrome rather than dip.

If you use your sterling flatware often, hand wash & dry it afterwards, & store it in pacific cloth, serious polishing won't be an issue. Occasionally a wipe with a silver cloth should do the trick.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed's silver polish