A lifetime’s experience at your fingertips
As an expert in all things domestic – especially those connected with household chores and general household management – Mr Town Talk has developed a remarkable compendium of useful ideas and helpful hints; what he calls his “Top Tips”.
Click on any of the subjects listed here, and you’ll get lots of sound advice and a wealth of good ideas drawn from a lifetime’s experience in and around the home.
Silver
Gold
Jewellery
Metals
Storage
Household
Silver
“Never put stainless steel and silver cutlery in the dishwasher at the same time. If you do, your silver cutlery will turn black!”
“Believe it or not, silver is surprisingly soft. Every time a tarnished item is cleaned, a minute layer of silver is removed. When you’re cleaning something fine, it’s important not to rub too fiercely.”
“Under no circumstances should you ever let your silverware come into contact with bleach. It will leave a permanent, ugly stain that you’ll never see the back of.”
“You’ll often find it’s only the tines, or prongs of your forks that become tarnished. But, if you dip the tines into my Silver Cutlery Rinse for just a moment or two, then buff them up with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths, you’ll get a wonderful result.”
“My advice is never clean silver with scouring powder. Its abrasive quality will always leave smooth surfaces covered in scratches which are hard to obliterate.”
“Never allow silverware to come into contact with dishwasher detergents. It will be instantly covered in black spots, which are terribly hard to remove.”
“Always protect your working surfaces before you begin each task, and read any cautions which are included on our packs.”
“If you’re working on a bench or table, I suggest you cover the work surface to prevent damage from any over-spray.”
“Never put silver in the dishwasher; it’s a soft metal that’s easily scratched or damaged and can be tarnished by other metals.”
“When it’s properly maintained, silver improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly, and it will reward you with a life-long lustrous look.”
“Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.”
“When you’re drying silver, do not use brand-new linen cloths; the starch in them is often too abrasive.”
“Always dry silver cutlery immediately after washing it. If you don’t, it will almost certainly develop water stains.”
“Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.”
“To remove wax from candlesticks, first leave the sticks in a warm room to soften the wax, then carefully pick out the wax with a blunt cocktail stick. Never use a knife, which could damage the silver.”
“To prevent the staining caused by foods such as salt, eggs, peas, olives and salad dressings, always rinse your silver cutlery as soon as possible after each use.”
“Whenever you’re cleaning silverware with a spray polish, always cover the surface you’re going to work on with old newspapers, to protect it. A simple point, but one that’s worth remembering!”
“Despite their warmth and comfort, open coal and gas fires aren’t kind to silverware. They give off hydrogen sulphide, which tarnishes anything made of silver. Best to keep the two apart!”
“Since time immemorial, the acids present in a number of foods have had a nasty habit of pitting silverware. Cutlery and salt cellars are particularly vulnerable. I recommend you always wash and rinse such items immediately after use.”
“Opaque gems are often set in silver. Do take care to avoid getting the silver polish on the stones. Remember: if in doubt, seek professional help.”
“An old, soft toothbrush is excellent for getting into the nooks and crannies of intricate jewellery and silverwork. I’ve found that cotton buds do a good job, too!”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“Remember: always take off your silver jewellery before going swimming or getting into a hot tub!”
“Fine pieces of jewellery should be polished with a new, clean cloth each time as an old cloth may contain tiny pieces of dirt, which could scratch the jewels. The cost of replacing your cloth is far less than having your jewellery professionally re-polished. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.”
“When you’re polishing fine silver, always use a gentle, circular motion. This will help preserve the delicate surface of the soft metal.”
“For the very best results I recommend you use my Silver Sparkle in conjunction with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths.”
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Gold
“It’s a good idea to have precious pieces of jewellery checked by a professional jeweller every few years, to see if any settings are loose.”
“Gold jewellery scratches so very easily, it’s always wise to keep precious items apart from each other by wrapping them individually in tissue paper, cotton wool, or better still, in one of my Gold Polishing Cloths.”
“Do wear your jewellery as often as possible. If it’s kept locked away, it can lose its brightness. Wearing it helps the metals retain their lustre, and being out-and-about helps keep them bright!”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
Jewellery
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“Fine pieces of jewellery should be polished with a new, clean cloth each time as an old cloth may contain tiny pieces of dirt, which could scratch the jewels. The cost of replacing your cloth is far less than having your jewellery professionally re-polished. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.”
“Wear your jewellery as much as possible. Doing so helps keeps the metals bright!”
“Jewellery scratches so very easily, it’s always wise to keep precious items apart from each other by wrapping them individually in tissue paper, cotton wool or one of my Polishing Cloths.”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“The setting and stones of most jewellery need to be cleaned regularly, especially if the piece is worn everyday. Small particles of dirt can get inside intricate fittings and dislodge the stones.”
“Earring clips, butterflies and the clasps on bracelets and necklaces are effectively springs and may need to be adjusted from time to time, to ensure they function properly.”
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Metals
“It’s a good idea to have precious pieces of jewellery checked by a professional jeweller every few years, to see if any settings are loose.”
“Gold jewellery scratches so very easily, it’s always wise to keep precious items apart from each other by wrapping them individually in tissue paper, cotton wool, or better still, in one of my Gold Polishing Cloths.”
“Do wear your jewellery as often as possible. If it’s kept locked away, it can lose its brightness. Wearing it helps the metals retain their lustre, and being out-and-about helps keep them bright!”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“It’s shockingly easy to make the mistake of leaving the electricity on when you’re cleaning the chandeliers. Switch it off if you want to stay switched on!”
“Whenever you put diamond jewellery into a Dip or our Sonic Cleaner, do make sure none of the stones are loose. If any diamonds do fall out, they’ll be very hard to see in the liquid!”
“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but their own worst enemy. They can easily scratch each other, and a sharp knock could crack them. My advice is: store them separately.”
“Diamonds are extremely hard and have a grain, similar to wood, which means a sharp knock could crack them. They can also scratch each other, so it’s wise to store them separately.”
“Always apply wax polishes sparingly and evenly, working with the grain of the wood. Follow this advice, and all your wooden surfaces will have a glowing, inner warmth.”
“Wooden chopping boards! How much sweeter they are when they’re treated with loving care and little of my wonderfully zesty Orange Wax.”
“Many of the products we use in bathrooms, such as toothpaste and strong detergents, can damage the surface of highly finished taps. Always rinse and dry them after every use.”
“A sure way of getting the best out of my Brass Polish is to use warm water and washing up liquid to wash the items you’re going to clean before you start to buff them up.”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“Fine pieces of jewellery should be polished with a new, clean cloth each time as an old cloth may contain tiny pieces of dirt, which could scratch the jewels. The cost of replacing your cloth is far less than having your jewellery professionally re-polished. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.”
“Wear your jewellery as much as possible. Doing so helps keeps the metals bright!”
“Jewellery scratches so very easily, it’s always wise to keep precious items apart from each other by wrapping them individually in tissue paper, cotton wool or one of my Polishing Cloths.”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“The setting and stones of most jewellery need to be cleaned regularly, especially if the piece is worn everyday. Small particles of dirt can get inside intricate fittings and dislodge the stones.”
“Earring clips, butterflies and the clasps on bracelets and necklaces are effectively springs and may need to be adjusted from time to time, to ensure they function properly.”
“Always remember to put your pearls on after applying perfume, cosmetics and hairspray, not before, as products like these can damage the stones’ lustre”
“Avoid getting the string of your pearl necklace too wet as it will expand and could crack the stones.”
“To check whether pearls are natural, cultured of artificial, run them across your mouth and against your teeth. Only artificial ones will feel perfectly smooth.”
“Never wash pearls in water. Oils from your own skin will help maintain their gleam, so wear them as often as possible.”
“The best thing in the world for preserving the gleam in your pearls is the natural oil in your skin. I recommend you wear your little treasures as often as possible.”
“Never put stainless steel and silver cutlery in the dishwasher at the same time. If you do, your silver cutlery will turn black!”
“Believe it or not, silver is surprisingly soft. Every time a tarnished item is cleaned, a minute layer of silver is removed. When you’re cleaning something fine, it’s important not to rub too fiercely.”
“Under no circumstances should you ever let your silverware come into contact with bleach. It will leave a permanent, ugly stain that you’ll never see the back of.”
“You’ll often find it’s only the tines, or prongs of your forks that become tarnished. But, if you dip the tines into my Silver Cutlery Rinse for just a moment or two, then buff them up with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths, you’ll get a wonderful result.”
“My advice is never clean silver with scouring powder. Its abrasive quality will always leave smooth surfaces covered in scratches which are hard to obliterate.”
“Never allow silverware to come into contact with dishwasher detergents. It will be instantly covered in black spots, which are terribly hard to remove.”
“Always protect your working surfaces before you begin each task, and read any cautions which are included on our packs.”
“If you’re working on a bench or table, I suggest you cover the work surface to prevent damage from any over-spray.”
“Never put silver in the dishwasher; it’s a soft metal that’s easily scratched or damaged and can be tarnished by other metals.”
“When it’s properly maintained, silver improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly, and it will reward you with a life-long lustrous look.”
“Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.”
“When you’re drying silver, do not use brand-new linen cloths; the starch in them is often too abrasive.”
“Always dry silver cutlery immediately after washing it. If you don’t, it will almost certainly develop water stains.”
“Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.”
“To remove wax from candlesticks, first leave the sticks in a warm room to soften the wax, then carefully pick out the wax with a blunt cocktail stick. Never use a knife, which could damage the silver.”
“To prevent the staining caused by foods such as salt, eggs, peas, olives and salad dressings, always rinse your silver cutlery as soon as possible after each use.”
“Whenever you’re cleaning silverware with a spray polish, always cover the surface you’re going to work on with old newspapers, to protect it. A simple point, but one that’s worth remembering!”
“Despite their warmth and comfort, open coal and gas fires aren’t kind to silverware. They give off hydrogen sulphide, which tarnishes anything made of silver. Best to keep the two apart!”
“Since time immemorial, the acids present in a number of foods have had a nasty habit of pitting silverware. Cutlery and salt cellars are particularly vulnerable. I recommend you always wash and rinse such items immediately after use.”
“Opaque gems are often set in silver. Do take care to avoid getting the silver polish on the stones. Remember: if in doubt, seek professional help.”
“An old, soft toothbrush is excellent for getting into the nooks and crannies of intricate jewellery and silverwork. I’ve found that cotton buds do a good job, too!”
“To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!”
“Remember: always take off your silver jewellery before going swimming or getting into a hot tub!”
“Fine pieces of jewellery should be polished with a new, clean cloth each time as an old cloth may contain tiny pieces of dirt, which could scratch the jewels. The cost of replacing your cloth is far less than having your jewellery professionally re-polished. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.”
“When you’re polishing fine silver, always use a gentle, circular motion. This will help preserve the delicate surface of the soft metal.”
“For the very best results I recommend you use my Silver Sparkle in conjunction with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths.”
“Whatever you may have heard, you should never wrap silverware in sealable plastic bags. Condensation will almost certainly form, and tarnish everything!”
“Avoid storing silver on wooden surfaces as the wood often contains acids that react to the metal.”
“Always store your silver in a dry environment. Dampness causes corrosion.”
“I always alternate place settings on a daily basis. I find the rotation helps the even development of the special patina that gives old silver its beautiful warmth.”
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Storage
“Avoid storing silver on wooden surfaces as the wood often contains acids that react to the metal.”
Household
“Many of the products we use in bathrooms, such as toothpaste and strong detergents, can damage the surface of highly finished taps. Always rinse and dry them after every use.”
“A sure way of getting the best out of my Brass Polish is to use warm water and washing up liquid to wash the items you’re going to clean before you start to buff them up.”
