Product Care

TOP TIPS: For the care and protection of beautiful treasured possessions

Read our Top Tips for sparkling jewellery, shining silver and a joyful home.

Silverware is for daily use, and typically silver is used for making the most valuable tableware – cutlery, flatware and holloware – the latter means drinking vessels, tea and coffee services etc. All these products need a visibly clean, attractive, strong and inert metal for contact with food and mouth, and silver has always been and remains the best and most durable choice.

The best treatment for properly made silver is constant use. With this it takes on a patina from the myriad of scratches that scatter the light that falls on its surface in all directions. You get a depth of blue-black colour from the sanding, polishing and extensive preparation given to the best silverware and cutlery during production processes, and the patina which develops from constant use enhances its appearance.

HOW TO CLEAN AND CARE FOR SILVER CUTLERY

Tops tips on how to clean & store silver cutlery to keep it shining and tarnish-free.

Caring for your silver cutlery can be a daunting task that may put you off using it, leaving the Sunday best sat in perpetual storage. It need not be that way!

The tips below are perfect for all types of sterling silver cutlery, both antique and modern.

  

CLEANING BEFORE USE

Ornate silver

If you have silver cutlery with an ornate or intricate design, our Anti-Tarnish Silver Foam is particularly suitable. The Silver Foam can be used at the sink with water, and has the added benefit of providing anti-tarnish protection.

A note on home remedies

We recommend avoiding home remedies to clean silver as you risk damaging your silverware. Home remedies may rely upon abrasives too strong for silver, and all home remedies leave silver unprotected against further tarnishing. Please do not risk damaging your valuable possessions with 'quick fixes'. Town Talk products are specially formulated to care for and protect your silver items. Our anti-tarnish range protects your silver from tarnishing for longer, reducing the amount you need to clean your silver in the long term.

CLEANING AFTER USE

Washing and Drying Up

Even if you are a 'leave it to soak’ type, we recommend cleaning your silver cutlery as soon as you can after use. This is because some foods (including salt, vinegar, mustard, onions and eggs) may cause staining or tarnishing when they come into contact with silver.

When you wash your cutlery, (we recommend a gentle washing up liquid) use clean water and a soft dishcloth, before drying with a soft cloth immediately to avoid the formation of water stains.

HOW TO CLEAN AND PROTECT SILVER

A 3 step care method for keeping your silver shining bright.

If you are reading this article then the chances are you have discovered tarnish forming on one of your treasured silver items. This can certainly cause a shock the first time it happens!

In this guide we look at the most common concerns we have come across, and share our 3 step care method for keeping your silver looking as beautiful as the day you bought it.

WHAT IS TARNISH?

Tarnish is the discolouration of silver that occurs naturally over time as the metal reacts with elements in the air to form a new compound on the surface. Left uncared for, silver will eventually turn quite black!

Tarnishing is a natural process so can't be stopped completely, however there are method to remove tarnish and some ways to help slow the formation of tarnish on your silver.

HOW TO REMOVE TARNISH FROM SILVER

The following 3 step care system will keep your silver shining beautifully with the minimum effort:

STEP 1: CLEAN

First, clean your silver using a specialist product to safely remove any built up dirt and tarnish. For a deep clean, liquid polishes and cleaners are most effective.

The Town Talk range of silver polishes and cleaners are formulated and manufactured to the highest standards. All of our products are manufactured in the UK, and we are honoured to have been bestowed with a Royal Warrant for their silver polishes and cleaners.

STEP 2: POLISH

Once you have cleaned your items, the next step is to buff your silver to a shining finish. If your silver is only lightly tarnished, then a Silver Polishing Cloth alone could be sufficient to bring back the sparkle to your items. For medium to heavy tarnish choose our Silver Polish which also provides the most anti-tarnish protection of all their products. Try it out and see for yourself!

 

HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER FURNITURE

It is easy to forget that this porous natural material needs a little extra TLC.

Leather sofas and chairs are so practical but it is easy to forget that this porous natural material needs a little TLC.

Here are our tips for keeping your leather furniture in good condition:

  • If you are able to position your furniture away from direct sunlight and heat sources (e.g. radiators), this will protect your leather from fading, drying out and cracking.
  • Regularly buff your leather furniture with a Microfibre Polishing Cloth to maintain its shine.
  • For a deeper clean, use a damp cloth to wipe your furniture down (be careful not to use too much water as leather doesn’t take well to this). Follow up with Leather Cream Spray to revive your leather’s natural suppleness.
  • Town Talk’s Leather Cream Spray has been perfected with a unique blend of ingredients including lanolin, beeswax and carnauba wax. It will not only clean your leather furniture, but will also help prevent it from drying out and maintain its natural suppleness.
  • Be aware of cushions, throws or blankets that are not ‘dye-fast,’ meaning that the material does not hold the dye well. Because leather is a porous material, it could end up absorbing dye from these materials, leaving your beloved furniture stained with colour.
  • Accidental spills should be cleaned up immediately, as leather is extremely absorbent. Time is of the essence if you want to prevent your spill from becoming a permanent stain.
  • If your leather does, unfortunately, show signs of wear and spillage, consult with a professional cleaner who will be able to assist in restoring your item.

 

HOW TO CLEAN GOLD JEWELLERY

Restore the glowing brilliance to your gold jewellery.

At its best gold has a brilliant yellow shine, however it can become dull due to daily use or when stored for a long period of time. Pure gold is too soft to be used for jewellery, so other metals are added to create an alloy, and the result is jewellery that may tarnish depending upon the ratio of metals used.

Town Talk’s gold jewellery care products are specially formulated to bring back the sparkle to your gold jewellery. Scroll down for information on solid gold jewellery, how to clean gold vermeil jewellery, and also how to care for your gold plated jewellery items.

HOW TO CLEAN SOLID GOLD JEWELLERY

  • Gold Polishing Cloth for bringing back a deep shine to your gold jewellery try Town Talk Gold Polishing Cloth. This will polish your jewellery to a glowing brilliance, leaving it looking like new again in no time!
  • For gold jewellery with hard gemstones, you need our renowned Jewel Sparkle which is especially designed for cleaning all your gold earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets etc. It gently dissolves surface grime on the stones and the metal mounts, which will make the gemstones shine much more brightly! Try also our handy Jewellery Cleaning Wand, Mini Jewellery Spray.
  • When using the Jewel Sparkle dip, do not fully submerge gold watches, or jewellery with emeralds, coral, amber, opals, or any stones that have water-soluble fixings (hard gemstones such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires are fine). Instead, use our Microfibre Polishing Cloth on the stones and a Gold Polishing Cloth to buff up the gold.
  • Gold is a notoriously soft metal and therefore it is prone to knocks and scratches. Protect your gold jewellery by storing it in one of our luxury Anti-tarnish Jewellery Pouches in between uses.
  • If your gold is in the lower karat range, you may find that it is prone to light tarnish. Storing your jewellery in an Anti-tarnish Jewellery Pouch will also slow the formation of tarnish and keep your items sparkling bright.

HOW TO CLEAN GOLD VERMEIL JEWELLERY

Vermeil is sterling silver covered with a layer of gold which must be at least 2.5 microns thick.

To keep your vermeil jewellery looking at its best, follow the same steps listed above for solid gold jewellery.

HOW TO CLEAN SILVER JEWELLERY

Keep your jewellery tarnish free, sparkling and ready to wear for longer.

Here is a 3 step method for cleaning silver, which is suitable for both sterling silver and silver plated items.

Please note, the products listed below are suitable for silver jewellery without gemstones.

STEP 1: CLEAN

First, clean your items using Silver Sparkle. This liquid dip cleaner removes the tarnish from your silver items in just minutes, bringing back the sparkling finish to your silver items. There is a small brush included which allows you to get into any tiny areas where dirt has built up. After cleaning with the Silver Sparkle, we recommend rinsing your jewellery with water and drying it with a soft, clean cloth.

STEP 2: POLISH

Once your items are clean and the tarnish has been removed, buff your items to a shining finish using a Silver Polishing Cloth. The cloth is impregnated with Town Talk's unique formula which provides Anti-Tarnish protection for your silver. This prolongs the tarnishing process, helping to keep your silver looking its best for longer. There is also the added bonus that the silver won’t need to be cleaned as often.

STEP 3: PROTECT

Silver is a soft metal and so it is prone to knocks and scratches. Town Talk’s luxury Anti-tarnish Jewellery Pouches will protect your silver whilst not in use, as well as help slow down the tarnishing process. Your jewellery will be sparkling and ready to wear for longer!

Following this 3 step process will keep silver jewellery looking at its best for years to come. We hope that you enjoy making your jewellery sparkle again!

HOW TO CLEAN BRASS & COPPER

Maintain the refined charm of brass & copper items around the house.

If you have brass and copper items around the house you may have noticed their colour darkening over time as they tarnish. Here is how to restore their bright, shining appearance. Brass is an alloy formed by combining Copper with Zinc, so the care tips below can be used on both your Copper and Brass items.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BRASS AND COPPER ITEMS

Step 1: Clean

Begin by washing your brass or copper items to remove any dirt or dust. Washing Up Liquid will do the trick for even non-kitchen items. This will remove any surface grime or particles that could scratch your items during polishing.

Dry your items with a soft, clean cloth.

Step 2: Polish

Using a dry cloth, apply Brass and Copper Polish to your item. It has been specially formulated for use with solid brass and copper to clean stubborn marks and blemishes. Depending on how tarnished the metal is, it may require a little elbow grease.

Newly cleaned brass and copper will invariably have a lighter colour after cleaning - this is because brass and copper darken as they tarnish, so they can look more golden over time. To help prevent this darkening, Brass & Copper Polish contains anti-tarnish protectors, which help to keep your brass or copper tarnish-free for a longer time.

Once you are satisfied with the finish of your item, rinse away the polish residue and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

HOW TO CLEAN STAINLESS STEEL

Unfortunately the term ‘stainless’ doesn’t mean ‘stain free’! Anyone with stainless steel appliances or surfaces in their house knows that it really does benefit from being kept clean, because otherwise it can look very dull and dirty.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR STAINLESS STEEL ITEMS

This method is suitable for any stainless steel item around your home - from pots and pans to worktops and sinks. Please exercise due caution when cleaning stainless steel electrical appliances, by removing their power supply before carrying out any cleaning, and ensuring your items are completely dry once you have finished.

Step 1: Clean

Begin by washing your stainless steel items to remove any dirt or dust. This will remove any surface grime and particles. Washing Up Liquid will do the trick here, even for non-kitchen items. Dry your items using a soft, clean cloth.

Step 2: Polish

Using a dry cloth, apply Stainless Steel Polish to your item. It has been specially formulated to remove tough stains and hard watermarks. Stainless steel is a hard metal, so you can apply as much elbow grease as is necessary to get the best results.

However, take care on satin finishes as too much elbow grease may cause items to take on a more polished look. Always try a little on an inconspicuous area first to ensure it will give you the finish you require.

Once you are satisfied with the finish of your item, rinse away the polish residue and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Finally, enjoy the restored shine of your stainless steel items!

HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER BAGS & PURSES

A well crafted leather bag lasts for generations, however without the appropriate care, it's vulnerable to drying out and staining.

Here are our tips for keeping your leather bags and purses clean, soft and supple, including daily use, care & maintenance and storage:

DAILY USE

  • Leather doesn’t react well to too much water, so use an umbrella if it rains when you are out and about.
  • Leather can stretch and lose its shape, so do not overfill your leather bag or purses.
  • If possible, avoid hanging your bag by the straps in a cloakroom, as the straps can stretch - see if there is somewhere you can place your bag instead.
  • Avoid placing your bag in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time - search for a shaded area where you are able to.
  • Be careful of jewellery, belt buckles and any other items of clothing which could scratch or scuff your leather accessories.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

  • Dust your bag with a soft cloth (we recommend Microfibre Polishing Cloth) at least once a week to remove surface grime from your bag. If convenient, you may wish to store a clean cloth in your bag so that you have it on hand.
  • Regularly condition your leather bag with leather cream spray. The formula has been perfected with a unique blend of ingredients including lanolin, beeswax and carnauba wax. It will not only give your leather bag a deeper clean, but will also help prevent it from drying out and maintain its natural suppleness.
  • If you do happen to spill something on your bag, blot (don’t wipe) it immediately to minimise the amount that your bag can absorb.
  • If your bag becomes stained and the usual care methods do not help, consult with a professional cleaner who will be able to assist.

STORAGE

  • Store your leather items away from sunlight or heat sources, such as radiators, which can cause the leather to dry out and crack.
  • Empty your bag before placing it in storage to avoid stretching or warping of the leather.
  • Store your leather bags in a cloth dust bag (or a white pillowcase if you do not own one). Do not use plastic, as it does not allow the bags to ‘breathe.’
  • For prolonged storage: wrap zips, clasps and any metal detailing on the straps in tissue, to avoid indentations forming on the leather.
  • You can also place an appropriate amount of tissue paper inside the bag to maintain the shape.
  • Do not hang your bag by the straps to store it, which can cause them to stretch. Allow your bag to stand on the base, and ensure that nothing obstructs the straps from standing.
  • Ensure that the leather is not in contact with any colourful fabrics, as the dye could seep into your leather item.
  • Before placing your leather bag or purse in storage, dust it with a soft cloth and use our leather cream spray. This will ensure that there is no dust or grime that will be allowed to settle into the surface whilst your bag is out of use.

We hope that these tips help you to get the best out of your leather accessories.