Will the tarnish on the heritage silverware 1847 hurt you when you eat with it?

Question

I couldn't get it all off

Spoons/forks etc

Answer 1

I wouldn't think that it would as long as you rinse off the tarnish remover really well.  Also, I have been told that if you use silverware as everydayware and wash it in the dishwasher, it looks as good as new, and you never have to use those toxic chemicals to remove the tarnish.  I might be wrong, though.

Edit:  sorry, Laro; it sounds like R D knows what he/she is talking about - I did have good intentions, though.

Answer 2

No the tarnish won't hurt you but I had to respond because one well-intentioned person thought you were talking about tarnish remover. They suggested you use the dishwasher. EEK!

I just wanted to warn you to not EVER put your sterling in the dishwasher especially if you mix it with other metals or flatware. I may have misunderstood but it sounds like you have heirloom quality silver. Wash it by hand and use it. The more you use it, the more the tarnish will wear away. You can go to a jeweler and for about $10, you can buy a silver polishing cloth. Also, you can ask the jeweler how much it would cost to have them clean the nooks and crannies you couldn't get to.

Answer 3

Define "hurt"?

I wasn't able to determine which is more soluble, tarnish or silver metal.  Tarnish (Ag2S) is very very insoluble in water so it may be more a matter of which is more likely to be abraded off silverware and eaten.  As far as we know neither tarnish nor metallic silver are significant health hazards in the concentrations you can injest from eating.  I'm not sure that is true when using it with things like caffeine, acidic soft drinks, tomatoes, or alkaline foods (if there are such things :p )

So, especially if you can't get it off: its harmless.

Answer 4

I don't think it will harm you.  

Recently I read that if you soak items like this in boiling, salted water with a piece of aluminum foil in it, all the tarnish will vanish.  I have not tried it but it is an easy enough.

I also know from experience that the tines will be cleaned by eating food with ketchup.

Answer 5

No, it just looks unsightly.