WHETHER HANDED down as a family heirloom or a new addition to your home accessories, silver is meant to be used as well as admired. But if you shudder in the belief that this equates to hard work, you would not be alone. The popularity of this noble metal has waned in modern times in direct proportion to our growing boredom with anything resembling a mundane household task. Nowadays, the harder an item is to care for, the less likely we are to have it in our homes.
But here's the rub: you can have your cake (fork) and eat with it, too, thanks to a range of products that makes caring for your prized silver service no more arduous than light washing up. (Sorry, the dishwasher is still a silverware no-go zone.)
Ravi Gidumal of Town House says the idea of owning silverware has lost its lustre for many consumers, blaming its decline on 'the misconception that silver is a pain to take care of'.
He adds that another common, albeit mistaken belief is that Hong Kong's humidity is harder on silverware than in cooler climes. 'Humidity can affect it, but not to any significant degree,' he says. 'Many people won't buy silverware simply because it tarnishes but, like most fine products, the key is to care for it properly.'
Silver photo frames account for the greatest demand at Town House, especially those with a treated finish that require only minimal after-care. Silver cutlery sets are next in vogue, with staff recommending the best treatment to keep the pieces looking like new is a quick wash and rinse with Silver Foam and warm water in the kitchen sink.
In any case, rubbing madly with silver polish can wear away the soft and delicate metal, and should be avoided, Gidumal adds. 'Use silver polish sparingly - and not at all, unless you really need to,' he says.
