Consulting the Silver Expert

REMOVING LABELS

If you just purchased a metal object with a label that won’t peel off cleanly, buy some inexpensive 100% orange essential oil. If you have skin sensitivities, wear nitrile gloves for this procedure. Apply enough orange oil to cover the entire label; you can apply it directly to the label or use a cotton ball or makeup pad. Wait five minutes and the label should come off easily. If adhesive residue remains, wipe it away with additional oil, wipe the piece with a soft cloth, and then use glass cleaner to remove any remaining oil. (I like Better Life Glass Cleaner because it has a neutral pH.) If a discolored spot remains on the silver where the adhesive had been, remove it with a low-abrasive polish such as Blitz Silver Shine Polish or Herman’s Simply Clean.

Orange oil has additional uses around the house and shop. I put a few drops in the vacuum cleaner bag to give the house a nice citrusy scent. And I recently found that it removes sticky sap from my car without damaging the paint!

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.