Scrap silver: a gentle clean is fine
For broken chains, single earrings, mismatched cutlery and damaged sterling that is being sold by weight, a light clean with warm water, a small amount of washing-up liquid and a soft cloth is fine. It will not change the assay or the weight; it just makes the items easier to photograph and inspect.
Antique silver: leave it alone
On older silver, Georgian and earlier Victorian flatware, candlesticks, tea sets and named-maker pieces, collectors and dealers expect to see honest age. The fine dark tone in recesses (patina) is part of the visual identity of the piece, and aggressive polishing removes detail, softens engraving and reduces value. If a piece could be antique, do nothing more than wipe loose dust with a clean dry cloth and ask before you sell. Once polish has been applied, you cannot put the patina back.
What never to use
Avoid kitchen scouring powders, steel wool, household bleach and aluminium-foil-and-bicarbonate "miracle" baths on anything you have not confirmed is scrap. Strong abrasives scratch and dull silver; chlorine bleach can pit and tarnish it permanently; the foil-and-soda method strips tarnish quickly but takes some of the patina with it.
Cleaning that is broadly safe on scrap
Warm water and a mild washing-up liquid, with a soft microfibre cloth, removes everyday dirt without scratching. A dedicated proprietary silver dip (used briefly, then rinsed) removes light tarnish; do not use it on pieces with set stones or glued components. For anything sentimental, antique or named, ask first.
Photographing for valuation
For a WhatsApp photo, natural light beats indoor lamps. A neutral background, an item filling most of the frame, and a close-up of any marks is enough for an experienced eye to give an honest indicative figure. Do not over-clean before photographing, patina helps us tell whether you are sending scrap or something we should look at as an antique.
Common questions
Will cleaning silver reduce its value?
On antique pieces, aggressive cleaning can. Patina is part of the value. On everyday scrap, a gentle clean is fine and does not change the assay or weight.
Can I use silver dip on hallmarked sterling flatware?
Briefly, then rinse, but if the flatware is named-maker or antique, ask first. Once you have stripped tarnish you cannot bring it back.
Does GoldPaid care if items are tarnished?
No. For scrap silver we weigh and XRF-assay the metal. Tarnish does not change either number. For antique pieces we may ask you to leave it alone so a specialist can look properly.