Are you folks talk about real Silver ware or a good quality tableware like Oneida? The reason I ask, is I have a few pieces of silver service, like a covered serving dish. It's a lot of work to keep the silver clean, so I'm curious if you folks are using authentic silver silverware, and keeping the silver polished.

We have very little authentic silver in our house and it is a lot of work to keep up with - you're right. But - it's there to be used. While polishing just think of all the happy memories and the wonderful dinners that silver was a part of. It makes the cleaning seem not so boring.

Even those expensive dishes and serving pieces - I feel that they are there to be used - not saved for no reason.

I think my silver needs real serving from a professional to get back to normal. I can clean it but it doesn't polish up to the shine it should have. The Tarnex stuff seems to remove the tarnish, but it's not a silver polish. I don't know if the Tarnex is the problem, and if it's hurt the silver, or if it's my neglect of the tarnish.

I've used the pink silver polish to clean the silver but it does polish like it used to do. Anyone got any tips on cleaning up old, somewhat neglected silver servingware? I think I've tried the ketchup trick too.

Use the sink, put a sheet of foil on the bottom and a handful of salt. Run very hot water into the sink, then submerge your items in it for 2-3 minutes. The tarnish should be gone. You may have to repeat if the silverware is in bad shape. You can do this for any silver - even jewelry.

Using those tarnish removers isn't good for you.

I've been fortunate to buy a nice set of silver (Edgewood) for a good price and just inherited a set (Rambler Rose) from my mother so we will use our good silver for Thanksgiving. It's beginning to look like a good investment.

I have no problem with using silver cleaner or Brasso on the brass for that matter.

Not sure what Christmas will bring - we may do a big seafood feed so would stick with the stainless. Maybe not.