How you care for your pewter depends on the appearance you wish to achieve and maintain. In daily use, pewter was kept bright and polished and some collectors prefer this appearance. Pewter does not tarnish like silver, so a periodic clean with an all-purpose metal (not silver) polish will keep it looking bright.

Much old pewter is patinated and has a colour ranging from mellow silver to charcoal grey, a more ‘antique’ appearance favoured by many collectors, especially in Britain and Europe . It is possible to restore patinated pieces to a brighter and polished condition and there are degrees of restoration depending on whether a completely untarnished appearance is preferred or whether some signs of age, e.g. oxidation in joints, dents, etc., should be apparent.

Oxidation on pewter varies according the composition of the alloy and even this composition can vary on individual pieces. Serious oxidation can eat right through the metal and eventually create holes, especially in sadware (dishes and chargers, for example). Expert guidance is needed if such pieces are to be restored. For other pieces, the following can be tried (although never on valuable pieces without practice or guidance).

Washing with hot, soapy water will often remove a surprising amount of dirt and tarnish and should always be the first step.

A light oxide can often be removed with a hard rub and repeated application of a proprietary metal (not silver) polish.

Use of a fine grade of emery paper, say 600 grade, wet and dry. A coarser grade may be tried to begin with, working up to finer grades. Dark, hard-metal items will be slow to respond to this treatment, however, and several applications may be needed.

Immersion in a solution of caustic soda will soften and remove oxide. This is an irreversible option and it is important to experiment with lengths of immersion on unwanted pieces before using seriously. Items should then be immersed in changes of clean water for several days after treatment to remove all traces of the chemical. Note – this is a dangerous chemical and should only be used with care and when wearing protective clothing. The resulting finish will be dull and it will be necessary to rub with progressively finer grades of emery paper followed by metal polish.

Some restorers also use electrolysis to remove oxide but this is an even more skilled task.

We repeat, never attempt to restore old or valuable pieces without guidance and practice on non-valuable/unwanted items!

Finally, old and valuable pieces will benefit from an application of good quality neutral wax polish to enhance appearance and protect from further oxidation.

Note for marine archaeologists:
Whilst hydrochloric acid is commonly used to remove calcareous encrustation from objects recovered from the seabed, it should not be used on pewter objects. This is because of the destructive action of chlorides on tin, which can continue despite best efforts to rinse the acid away after treatment. You should instead use dilute nitric acid (a 5 – 10% solution). This will remove the encrustation safely. It usually has no effect at all on the underlying patination, but at very worst it will simply put a thin oxide layer on the surface.

CARE: Pewter is safe for foods and beverages and with a minimum amount of care, may be passed on to generations. pewter should be washed and dried as soon as is practical after use to avoid possible staining caused by certain foods and beverages. Pewter polished, scouring power or fine steel wool may be used to maintain satin finish pewter, should staining or scratches occur. You can also use “Pewter Wash” for normal cleaning. While our pewter is dishwasher safe, we do not recommend dishwasher use due to other elements that your pewter may come in contact with, which may cause staining or pitting.

CAUTIONS: Do not heat or cook in pewter, it will cause damage. Use a glass or other suitable liner for flowers and do not store beverages or foods in pewter that contain natural acids such as milk, juice, etc., as they may cause staining or pitting in your pewter piece.