How to Seal Silver

Silver is a precious metal found in everything from eating utensils to decorative pieces of art and medals. While silver shines brightly when it is clean, exposure to air creates a gray or black smudge on the surface, called tarnish. One way to prevent tarnish from developing on decorative silver items is to cover them in a thin layer of lacquer. This prevents air from getting to the silver and maintains the shine.

Towel
Soft cloths
Silver polish
Water
Neutral cleaner
Rubber gloves
Acetone
Newspaper
Clear acrylic lacquer
Natural-bristle paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Open a towel on a table and place the silver piece on top of it. Dampen a soft cloth and pour 1 tsp. of silver polish onto it. Place the cloth on top of the silver piece and rub it in a back-and-forth motion, not circular, to remove the existing tarnish from the surface.
- 2
  Turn the cloth to a clean section frequently and add more silver polish as needed until no tarnish remains on the silver piece.
- 3
  Hold the silver piece under a stream of running water and rub the object using your fingers to remove all traces of the polish. Apply 1 tsp. of a neutral cleaner to a soft cloth and wash the silver again to ensure removal of the silver polish. Rinse the silver a final time thoroughly.
- 4
  Dry the silver using a towel until no moisture remains.
- 5
  Put on disposable gloves and apply 1 to 2 tsp. of acetone to a soft cloth. Wipe all surfaces of the silver with the acetone-soaked rag to degrease it.
- 6
  Spread newspapers over the work surface and center the silver object on it. Open a can of clear acrylic lacquer and insert a natural bristle paint brush into it.
- 7
  Paint the lacquer onto the silver in a thin coat until covering all portions. Wait until the lacquer dries and apply a second coat to the silver.

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