Marsha Whitney Blog

Q: How does your new Premium Copper & Brass Polish compare to 3M’s discontinued Tarni-Shield product that I liked so much?

K.W., Las Vegas

A: As one of America’s leading companies, 3M made a great product. We also were disappointed when they stopped making it. We tried to create ours as close to it as possible. Our new polish also includes an expensive, high quality anti-tarnish ingredient. It’s far superior to the cheap copper and brass polishes being sold out there. Try ours today. As you know, we guarantee your satisfaction with all our items.

Q: Does Rhodium Plating prevent silver jewelry from tarnishing?

R.J. Dallas, TX

A: Rhodium plating does help prevent tarnish. However, it also has several disadvantages, including: (1) The manufacturing price, which increases what you pay for your jewelry items at retail stores; (2) It wears off; and (3) The plating sometimes chips, leaving your item tarnished in spots and ugly.

Q: A friend says her silver jewelry doesn’t tarnish because she buys only rhodium-plated products. Is that true?

M. J. Dallas, TX

Q: I don’t understand how there can be such a huge difference in prices for silver polish. Is there really that much difference between them?

R. J. , Tustin, CA

A: The phrase “you get what you pay for” truly defines silver polish. The less-expensive polishes usually are among the most abrasive. Sure, they might take off tarnish, but they also frequently partially deface your silver possessions. If your piece has a very light coat of silver coating, it soon will be gone if you use these cheaper polishes very often for tarnish removal.

3M’s Tarni-Shield Silver Cleaner is the most-expensive, least-abrasive and finest polish on the market. It also is perhaps the only one that has anti-tarnish capabilities that delay tarnish buildup. That ingredient is very expensive. No manufacturer can afford to utilize any similar ingredient to 3M’s patented protector and get shelf space in major retail discount stores like Target or Wal*Mart.

Q: I don’t understand how tarnish forms on silver and how your 3M strips prevent tarnish.

K. B. Villages, FL

A: Silver is a wonderful precious metal. However, the natural sulfides in the air form tarnish when they come into contact with silver. These include:

● Sulfur dioxide

● Hydrogen sulfide

● Chlorine

● Acetic acid

There are many types of silver --- from expensive sterling silver to sometimes thinly coated silver plate.

There is little way to prevent silver tarnish from forming on items that sit out --- especially in humid conditions when these sulfides are maximized by the moisture in the air.

Our 3M strips, when put in an enclosed area with silver, attract the sulfides to their surface rather than your precious silver that attracts these natural pollutants.

Millions of consumers have used these 3M anti-tarnish strips that incorporate 3M’s acclaimed Tarni-Shield technology. Even Consumer Reports has tested these 3M strips and reported how well they work to prevent silver tarnish. If you clean your silver with the Tarni-Shield polish before storing them with the 3M strips, the polish somewhat slows tarnish from forming.

However, silver must be put in an enclosed area with the strips because there are so many natural sulphides in our atmosphere. The higher the humidity, the greater the chance of tarnish.

That’s why many people use anti-tarnish bags with a sleeve for the 3M strips. If you change the strips every three to six months, your silver jewelry, serving pieces and other precious items will never tarnish.

You must change your 3M strips every three to six months because they can only absorb so many of these natural sulfides in the air.

There also are other ways to prevent silver from tarnish. Most don’t work very well, however. Some use bags made out of a special silver cloth. Problem is that you don’t know when the cloth has maximized its strength. There also are white strips that only work on one side. Check online. Then compare the other methods to the 3M technology.