Tips 'N Tidbits

Caring for Bakelite
Sunlight can cause the surface of bakelite items to become dull and lose some color.  However, other than that, the material is not harmed by normal home use.  Bakelite can be cleaned with a mild liquid-soap solution, applied with a soft cloth.  However, do not immerse or soak the item in water.  After washing, dry the item with a soft cloth.  If you want to revive the color, use a mildly abrasive car-paint cleaner.  Apply the cleaner with a soft pad, then was the bakelite again.  You can further protect the surface by putting a fine coating of microcrystalline wax over the item.

Caring for Bronzes
Old bronze that are kept indoors develops a highly-prized, rich brown patina, which should always be preserved.  Outside - exterior - bronzes develop a greenish-blue patina.  Neither indoor or outdoor bronzes should be overcleaned, as the cleaning will ruin their color.  Simply dust the surfaces of your interior or exterior bronzes regularly to prevent the build-up of dirt.  To remove dust from crevices, use a small, soft brush.  Never wash bronze unless you are sure it is not patinated spelter (see "spelter"), as you will damage the color.  If you know your piece is entirely bronze, it can be washed with a liquid soap solution (1 part soap to 10 parts warm water).  Apply the soap solution sparingly with cotton swabs.  After washing, dry the piece thoroughly.  If the surface of your bronze has become dull, it can be revived by applying a coat of microcrystalline wax with a soft cloth.  After the wax has been applied, use a clean soft cloth to buff the piece.  Keep indoor bronzes away from damp conditions to prevent them from corroding.

Caring for Pewter
Generally, old pewter has a dark grey patina that needs very little attention.  If it contains a high portion of lead, the color will be quite a bit darker.  Pewter must be handled carefully since it is a soft metal that can easily be scratched or dented.  You should not use coarse abrasives on old pewter because they will damage the patina.  To maintain the condition of pewter, remove the dust and buff the item occasionally with a soft cloth.  You can also wash soiled wares in warm water and liquid soap (1 part soap to 10 parts water).  After washing, rinse the piece completed and dry it with a soft cloth.  To store pewter, make sure you don't put it into an oak cupboard or other storage cupboards that might contain organic acids.  Also, do not store it in boxes that contain a high percentage of glue.  The best way to store pewter is to wrap each piece in acid-free tissue and place them in ventilated plastic bags.  Corrosion on old pewter may cause small lumps to appear.  If the condition is not stable, you should have the item treated by a specialist.

Cleaning Large Pieces of Jewelry
The best thing for cleaning large pieces of open-backed jewelry, such as a brooch, is conservator's liquid soap and warm water.  The solution should contain one part soap to ten parts water.  You will also want to add  few drops of ammonia.  Remove the dirt on the piece with an old toothbrush, then rinse the piece in clean warm water.  Dry the piece with a soft cotton cloth.

Cleaning Small or Intricately Detailed Jewelry
To clean small or intricately detailed jewelry, it is best to use a commercial dip.  Dips for cleaning gold, silver and gemstones is readily available from jewelers, and there are several retail stores that are now carrying jewelry cleaning dips as well.  When cleaning your jewelry, make certain that you use the right dip for the material being cleaned.  The dipping method makes cleaning small and intricately detailed jewelry much simpler.  A small brush can be used to clean the crevices or other areas that are not completely cleaned with the dipping.

Detecting Hairline Cracks on Porcelain
It is difficult to detect hairline cracks on porcelain unless the cracks has become dirty.  However, hairline cracks can sometimes be detected by holding the piece up to the light.  You can also put the piece in the palm of your hand and tap it gently with your fingernail.  The porcelain will "ring" if there are no cracks.

Determining the Quality of Gold
The quality of gold in an item is represented by its karat (carat) value, which is the proportion by weight of pure gold to the alloyed metals.  Pure gold is 24 karat.  In North America, karat is spelled with a "k" rather than a "c" which is used in European nations.  The use of the "k" helps to identify items made in North America.

Dusting Books
To keep books in excellent shape, they must be dusted regularly.  Dusting the books reduce the risk of dust particles getting in between the pages, which can ultimately destroy the paper.  Always check for mildew and harmful insects when you dust your books as well.  To dust a book, hold it tightly between your forefinger and thumb.  Use a soft-bristle paintbrush to dust the "head," brushing from the spine out.

Electrochemical Dip for Cleaning Tarnished Metal
Chemical dips soften and/or remove tarnish from silver, copper and brass by an electrochemical process.  To make your own dip for cleaning large metal objects, line a plastic tub or bucket with aluminum foil.  It is best to tie a small piece of string to the object, as you will use that string to lift the piece out of the dip to monitor its progress.  Place the object into the foil-lined plastic container.  Make up a solution of 1 cup of washing soda (sodium carbonate) and 3 1/2 pints of VERY HOT water.  You will need to make enough solution to totally cover your object.  Immediately after the solution is made, pour it carefully into the plastic container.  You will notice that a chemical reaction is taking place as the solution will begin to bubble as the tarnish is removed.  Lift the piece out frequently to monitor the progress, and when it is clean, remove it from the dip.  Wash and dry it immediately, then polish the piece.  If the tarnish is really heavy, you might have to repeat this process several times.  There are also commercial cleaning plates available that will produce the same electrolytic reaction.  However, cooking salt (rather than the sodium carbonate) is used in the hot water.  NOTE:  DO NOT USE A DIP FOR CLEANING ITEMS THAT ARE COMPOSED OF A MIXTURE OF MATERIALS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH WEIGHTED BASES, SUCH AS CANDLESTICKS.

Evaluating Vintage and Antique Jewelry
One way to identify stones is visual, which is holding it up to good light and looking at the stone through a 10 power loop; this is what is called identifying if the stone has areas of zoning.  Zoning is a variation in color in different areas of the stone.  This variation can indicate whether it is a natural gem or a pretty piece of glass.  Glass will be clear and have an even color;  it might possibly have small bubbles as well.  Is the stone "cool?"  If so, this also is an indication that it might be the real thing.  Faceting of the stone is another clue to look for as a real gem does not have precise faceting as synthetic stones do.

Lacquering Metal
You can eliminate the need to regularly polish ornamental copper, brass and silver items by applying a clear lacquer to the metal.  This process can preserve the finish in a normal household setting for many years.  Both brush-on and spray-on metal lacquers are available.  Be sure that you work in a warm, well-ventilated and dust-free room.  To prepare the surface for lacquering, you need to polish the piece.  However, do not use a long-term cleaners as that can affect the bonding of the lacquer.  Wash the piece to remove all traces of the polish and then dry the piece thoroughly.  Wearing cotton gloves, wipe the surface of the piece with methylated spirit to remove oily fingermarks.  Using a soft, fine brush, apply the lacquer quickly and evenly.  Two thin coats of the lacquer are preferable, as there is a tendency for a heavy coating to puddle in molded areas.  Turn the piece as you apply the lacquer, working in a systematic way to ensure that all areas receive the first coat.  Let the lacquer harden overnight before applying the second coat.  If you use spray lacquer, be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions carefully.  Also be very careful to apply the spray evenly.

Niello Silverware
Niello is a type of silverware that is decorated with engraved designs.  These designs are then filled with a black compound.  Special care is necessary when cleaning niello as the piece will be damaged if the compound is removed.  Never us a dip to clean niello.  Lightly clean the surface of the piece with a long-term silver polish.  This enhances the decorative design, making it stand out more on the piece.

Polishing Silver
When polishing silver, choose a product that is chemically formulated to give long-term protection to the piece or pieces you are going to clean and polish.  This is because each time a piece of silver is polished, it loses some of its silver.  Thus, do not polish your silver any more often than is absolutely necessary.  Apply the polish according the directions on the bottle, using a soft cloth and working in a circular motion.  As the cloth becomes dirty, turn it to a clean area.  To clean decorative work on the silver piece, use a soft brush or cotton swabs.  After you have cleaned and polished each piece, wash the polished metal to remove all traces of the cleaner.  Dry the piece, then buff it once again with a clean, soft cloth.

Removing Lacquer from Metal Objects
Worn or missing lacquer creates a patchy appearance on metal objects.  However, before the metal can be polished once again, the old lacquer must be removed.  If shellac has been used, remove it with cotton swabs that have been dipped in methylated spirit.  Use acetone to remove cellulose lacquers.  If those fail to remove the lacquer, use paint stripper.  When cleaning the lacquer from an item that is made from multiple metals, be sure you apply solvents to the appropriate surfaces only.  It is always best to clean a small area at a time.  After the lacquer is off, wash the surface with mild soapy water and dry it thoroughly.  Once dry, the piece is ready to polish once again.  Keep in mind that to keep from having to polish the piece on a regular basis - which tends to remove part of the silver, etc. with each polishing - you might want to reapply lacquer once the piece has been polished.

Storing Jewelry
Storing jewelry properly, whether it is worn often or needs to be stored for a long-term, is very important for maintaining its beauty.  For jewelry that is worn regularly, it is best to keep the items in a cloth-lined, multiple compartment case, or in individually padded boxes.  Keeping the jewelry separated and in padded or cloth-lined cases ensures that the soft metal will not easily get scratched or dented.  Hanging necklaces on hooks helps to keep them from becoming entangled.  Keeping bracelets in separate compartments also helps keep them from becoming entangled.  To store jewelry long-term, wrap each piece in acid-free tissue.  Rolling the chains in tissue will make them easier to handle, as well as keeping them from harm.  Store the jewelry in a stable environment, away from excessive heat.

Storing Silver Pieces
To store silver, wrap each piece individually in acid-free tissue.  This protects the surface of the piece from abrasion, as well as from atmospheric pollution.  To avoid condensation problems, it is best to place the wrapped piece in a ventilated polyethylene bag.  Silver should be stored in cool places.  Cloth wraps and bags that have been treated with tarnish inhibitor are also available and can be purchased and used to protect your stored silver.  When storing silver for a long period of time, make sure you check it regularly to make certain that it has not gotten damp, or become damaged by other means.