Consulting the Silver Expert

Handling Coffee & Tea Stains

Place the pot on a cotton towel in the sink and fill the pot with warm water. Drop in one five-minute denture-cleaning tablet per two cups of water. Let stand for ten minutes. If it looks like the pot may overflow because of the effervescing, pour out some liquid through the spout (as you don’t want the liquid to run down the outside of the pot). Empty the pot through the spout then rinse the pot with warm water.

You may find that the effervescing action of the tablets may remove only the grime and not the stains. If so, use a moist cellulose sponge and non-lemon-scented, phosphate-free detergent to remove any remaining grime, then rinse with warm water.

If you need more scrubbing power, use the natural fibers of 3M’s Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Sponge:

which are more gentle than their Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, pictured here:

If the pot opening is not large enough to insert your hand, make a swab by wrapping the sponge or pad on the end of a wooden spoon and secure the upper end with electrical tape.

If stains remain, moisten the sponge (not the scrub side) and apply a liberal amount of Wright’s Silver Cream, then wipe away the stain and rinse the pot with warm water. Wright’s is an excellent cleaner for this task because it is far less abrasive than commercial cleaners that are not meant specifically for silver.

Do not use powdered abrasive cleaners as they will impart fine scratches that will attract more dirt. Likewise, do not use steel wool (too abrasive and rust may result on the bottom), Scotch-Brite abrasive pads, or toxic silver dips.

A cotton swab with a small amount of Wright’s will remove stains within the spout opening. Fill the pot with warm water and rinse out any polish that may remain in the spout.

Mr. Herman continues to offer his services to our readers for any questions you may have about the care of silver. Either contact him at (800) 339-0417 (USA) or via email: jeff @ hermansilver.com

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.