silverware

Silver, while a gorgeous addition to the table, has a reputation for being finicky to maintain. Luckily there's an easy solution to tackling tarnish — no trip to the store to procure supplies needed. All you'll need is a large pot, tinfoil, baking soda, water, a pair of silicone-tipped tongs and a soft dishcloth — really, that's it.

The Low-Fuss Procedure

1. Line the pot with tinfoil. Add a quart of water and 2 tablespoons baking soda to the pot, and bring the solution to a boil.
2. Working with a few pieces at a time (to minimize scratching) gently lower the tarnished silver into the baking soda solution, let sit for 10-30 seconds, or until the tarnish dissolves. Remove the silver with the tongs; set aside.
3. Once all of the silver is tarnish-free, rinse each piece with soapy water, and dry with a soft dishcloth.

Keep reading for a few tips and tricks.

The New York Times recently sat down with Eddie Ross to chat about flea marketing. Ross is an incessant flea market and antique fair shopper and even gives guided tours of markets around the country, so he's really an expert when it comes to sifting through the goods. He's also made a habit of styling gorgeous tablescapes and vignettes throughout his home using his finds, and he works wonders on vintage décor that may have seen better days. So I couldn't help but pass along his must-have solutions for cleaning up flea market finds, which he shared with The Times. Check them out below!

Old Linens

If you've picked up antique table linens that have yellowed over time, Ross recommends The Laundress All-Purpose Bleach Alternative to safely whiten, brighten, and disinfect them. The solution is nontoxic, nonabrasive, environmentally friendly, and can be used on all colors and fabrics except for wool and silk. You can also use it to clean your kitchens, bathrooms, and hard, nonwooden surfaces and floors throughout your home. Just mix 1/4 cup with water.
Continue reading to see what Ross recommends for silverware and painted furniture!

When we're talking fine china and silver, we don't all have the luxury of having complete matching sets of dinner and serving pieces. Luckily, mixed sets can still look just as chic. Whether it's a tea set, antique silverware, or a mismatched set of dinner plates, there are a few things you can do to make building a mismatched set look purposeful, while still keeping your costs down.

First of all, in-store sales at home décor shops are a great place to find bargains on fine china and silver on pieces that don't make a full set. For instance, you might find two dinner plates at a great price, but you'll have to come up with four more to serve a party of six. You can also find great bargains at flea markets and thrift stores, but you'll have to do more sifting to find good quality pieces.

Read my essential tips for building your own set of mismatched tableware.