• Don't mix stainless and sterling in the dishwasher. If they touch, it creates a chemical reaction that can leave black spots on the silver.
  
• Don't use abrasive cleaners that can scratch and dull metal surfaces.
  
• Unless specified for a particularly durable type of metal, avoid using steel wool or scouring pads to clean.
  
• Rub metal with straight, back-and-forth motions, rather than in circles. This helps maintain a uniform appearance.
  
• Apply metal cleaner with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. Turn the cloth frequently to avoid reusing the soiled portion.
  
• Prevent undiluted liquid dishwashing detergents from coming into direct contact with metal, as it can damage the finish.
  
• For ornate objects, apply metal cleaner generously. Rinse the cleaner with a wet sponge.

Brass
Brass is the luminous alloy of copper and zinc. The patina on brass is the blue-green offspring of time and air.

Applications
Candlesticks * Bed frames * Planters * Fireplace utensils * Cooking pans * Wall plates * Musical instruments * Light fixtures * Door knobs, drawer pulls, other hardware

Care Considerations
Tarnished brass can be easier to polish if it is first washed in hot soapsuds. Tarnish and spots of corrosion are best removed with an all-metal cleaner.

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
Thoroughly wash and rinse brass pans in hot sudsy water after cooking to remove food residue and dry immediately before storing. For heavily soiled objects, try Goddards Cookware Cleaner.

Try Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish, Mr. Metal Wipes, Goddard's Brass & Copper Polish or Goddard's Brass & Copper Cloth.

Chrome
Chrome is a highly reflective, silver-colored metal. Since chrome plating on a metal product may be very thin, it's best not to use highly abrasive polish on it.

Applications
Electric appliances * Boat railings * Plumbing fixtures * Furniture * Television and radio antennas * Engine components * Metal frames

Care Considerations
Chrome is a very soft metal, susceptible to damage by contact with salt. Similarly, foods containing salt will cause corrosion if they remain on chrome's surface. If an object has become green with corrosion, it can only be replaced or replated.

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
The mildest cleaning method possible should be used for chrome-plated appliances and utensils. Use a soft cotton cloth and mild soap or detergent to remove dirty or sticky substances from chrome surfaces. Once major residue has been removed, use an all-metal cleaner to restore shine.

Try Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish, Mr. Metal Wipes or Goddard's Brass & Copper Polish.

Copper
Copper is a red metal that tarnishes from sulfur impurities in the air. If moisture is compounded with the air, oxidation is rapid, leaving a dark, dulling film on copper surfaces. Copper is protected from continuous and penetrating corrosion by the formation of a green patina or film, called verdigris, which is composed of copper carbonate. While this patina can be a desirable look in certain outdoor applications, it can cause nausea and vomiting if eaten. Routine cleaning will restore copper's brightness and prevent corrosion from developing.

Applications
Cooking utensils * Pots and pans * Colanders * Jewelry * Umbrella stands * Teakettles

Care Considerations
Copper is a very soft metal and is highly susceptible to scratches

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
To remove green carbonate compound that has collected on copper, wash and rinse items in several changes of soapsuds and clean water. Follow with an application of all-metal cleaner. Acidic foods cause copper to tarnish. Always wash copper cookware in hot, soapy water immediately after cooking. For stubborn stains, such as on the bottom of copper pans, try Goddards Cookware Cleaner. Then use an all-metal cleaner to reduce scratch marks and produce a shiny gloss.

Try Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish, Mr. Metal Wipes or Goddard's Brass & Copper Polish.

Gold
As one of the earth's most precious metals, gold is the most docile and malleable of all metals. The Karat mark states the percentage of pure gold in the piece -- 24K is 100 percent gold, 18K is 75 percent gold, 14K is 58.3 percent gold, and 10K is 41.7 percent gold. The alloys in gold that give it strength and durability include copper, silver, nickel and zinc.

Applications
Jewelry * Trim on fine sterling silverware * Gold-plated faucets/fixtures

Care Considerations
Since gold does not tarnish, it requires little care other than washing and drying. While gold cannot be damaged by exposure to the air, discoloration can occur from contact with sulfides in human sweat and perfumes found in lotions and soap. Alloys in gold and soldered areas are weakened by chlorine, so it's best to remove jewelry when swimming in a pool or cleaning with bleach solutions.

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
Dust gold lightly with a clean, dry cloth. Clean tarnished gold with an all-metal cleaner. Scrub jewelry lightly with a soft brush and rinse under warm water to remove dirt and lotion build-up from hard-to-clean areas. When not in use, wrap gold jewelry in a chamois cloth or acid-free tissue.

Gold-plated faucets scratch easily. To clean, use a chamois and warm water. All-metal cleaner can then be applied to restore the shine.

Try Goddard's Jewelry Cleaner, Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish, Mr. Metal Wipes or Goddard's Brass & Copper Polish.

Pewter
Pewter is a gray alloy of tin, antimony and copper. Historically, lead was used as a substitute for antimony. However, since the late 1700s, pewter has been lead-free due to the health hazards of ingesting lead. The dark finish on pewter, called the patina, is a natural result of aging.

Applications
Bowls * Dinner plates * Drink ware * Pitchers * Vases * Figurines * Picture frames

Care Considerations
Keep pewter dry or it will develop a gray film and will tarnish.

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
The safest way to remove food particles and other residue from pewter is with soap and warm water, cleaning the object gently by hand and drying it thoroughly afterwards. An all-purpose metal cleaner may then be applied to polish and preserve the finish.

Don't wash pewter in the dishwasher. The detergent and high heat will damage the finish. Rub badly stained pewter lightly with very fine (00) steel wool. Follow with all-metal cleaner to restore luster.

Try Goddard's Cookware Cleaner, Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish or Mr. Metal Wipes.

Silver & Silver Plate
Silver is the most lustrous of all the metals and it tarnishes readily. Black silver sulfide forms when the metal has even the slightest exposure to any sulfur compounds found in the air or water or sulfur dyes often found in cloth or paper. Silver plate is produced by applying a coating of silver over copper or another metal, a process known as "electroplating." The care of silver plate is the same as for solid silver.

Applications
Candlestick holders * Flatware * Tableware * Serving dishes * Jewelry * Tea sets

Care Considerations
Constant wear actually enhances the beauty of a solid silver piece by giving it a deep, mellow patina. If silver is used frequently, it shouldn't need polishing more than twice a year. Silver and silver plated items are prone to tarnish, scratches, dings, staining and pitting.

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
Keep rubber bands, newspaper ink and plastic food wrap away from silverware. They can stain or corrode even those items covered with layers of tissue or cloth. Silver pieces displayed in cabinets will tarnish less quickly if an open container of tarnish-retarding compound is stored with them.

Since the outer layer of a silver-plated item is soft and thin, don't rub harshly when cleaning. Wash and/or rinse all silver plate promptly after use to prevent tarnish, staining or pitting caused by food soils. Don't wash silver or silver plate in the dishwasher. Wash by hand in sudsy water, rinse in clear hot water and dry thoroughly. To prevent water spotting, dry items with a lint-free towel, cotton cloth or cotton sock.

To clean tarnish from silverware, including the inside edges of fork tines, try Goddard's Silver Dip.

Also try Goddard's Long Shine Silver Polish, Goddard's Silver Foam, Goddard's Silver Polishing Cloths and Mitts, Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish or Mr. Metal Wipes.

Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a strong alloy comprised of iron, carbon, chromium or chromium/nickel and traces of other metals. Scratches or surface imperfections tend to diminish the stain resistance of stainless steel tableware.

Applications
Bake ware * Major appliance surfaces * Mixing bowls * Flatware * Curtain rods * Sinks

Care Considerations
Stainless steel may discolor/stain with heat. Prolonged exposure to salty or acidic foods (fruits, fruit juices, salad dressings, vinegar, milk) may also stain or pit stainless steel.

Cleaning and Preservation Tips
Wash stainless steel cookware and utensils soon after using them to minimize staining. Ordinary cleaning in the sink will suffice for stainless steel cookware. Use an all-metal cleaner to remove heat stains from the matte finish inside of a saucepan or from the pan's polished exterior. For heavily soiled/stained areas, try Goddard's Cookware Cleaner. Restore the finish with an all-metal cleaner.

Try Mr. Metal All-Metal Polish.