Edgware Polishing Cloth polishing cloth for silver-plated items

Edgware by BBICO Polishing Cloth is a specialist 100% cotton polishing cloth impregnated with a silver-care treatment for silver and silver-plated musical instruments. Designed, manufactured and packaged in the United Kingdom, the cloth uses a skin-safe polishing solution that helps remove grease and grime while leaving an anti-tarnish coating to prolong the results of polishing.

Part of the professional Edgware by BBICO instrument maintenance range developed by the British Band Instrument Company, the cloth is particularly suitable for silver-plated brass instruments and silver-plated woodwind key mechanisms.

Why use a specialised silver polishing cloth?

Silver plating is widely used on professional musical instruments. Silver-plated surfaces can be found on trumpets, cornets, flutes, saxophones and other instruments, as well as on the key mechanisms of clarinets, oboes and bassoons.

Silver gradually tarnishes through reactions with compounds in the surrounding environment, particularly sulphur-containing substances. These reactions can produce dark deposits, mainly silver sulphide, on the surface.

An ordinary soft cloth can remove dust and fingerprints but may not remove established silver tarnish effectively.

Edgware Polishing Cloth contains a specialised polishing treatment that helps clean silver surfaces and leaves a protective anti-tarnish coating to slow the return of discolouration.

Instrument compatibility

BBICO recommends the cloth for silver-plated brass instruments and woodwind instruments with silver-plated keywork.

• Trumpets and cornets: cleaning and polishing silver-plated bodies, bells and accessible metal components.
• Flugelhorns: care of silver-plated exterior surfaces.
• French horns: polishing silver-plated instrument bodies and accessible fittings.
• Trombones: maintenance of suitable silver-plated exterior components.
• Euphoniums and tubas: polishing accessible silver-plated surfaces.
• Clarinets and oboes: care of exposed silver-plated keywork surfaces.
• Flutes: polishing silver-plated bodies and keys.
• Saxophones: cleaning silver-plated keys and other suitable components.

Key features and benefits

• 100% cotton. Soft fabric suitable for gentle polishing of accessible silver-plated surfaces.
• Special polishing treatment. Helps remove grease, fingerprints and surface grime from silver.
• Anti-tarnish protection. Leaves a protective coating that slows the recurrence of tarnish.
• Skin-safe formulation. According to the manufacturer, the impregnating solution is safe for skin contact when used as intended.
• Professional instrument care. Suitable for silver-plated brass instruments and silver-plated woodwind keys.
• Convenient application. No separate liquid cleaner or polishing paste is needed for routine polishing.
• Made in Britain. Designed, manufactured and packaged in the UK.
• Environmentally considered packaging. Recyclable kraft paper tube and compostable NatureFlex bag.

Technical specifications

How to polish a silver-plated instrument

1. Preparation. Make sure the surface is free from dust, sand and other hard particles that could scratch the finish.
2. Cleaning. Gently wipe accessible silver-plated surfaces with the Edgware Polishing Cloth.
3. Polishing. Use light movements on areas showing fingerprints, discolouration or light tarnish.
4. Delicate components. When polishing keywork, avoid applying pressure to pivots, springs, pads and cork fittings.
5. Storage. After use, keep the cloth in a clean, dry location protected from contamination.

Recommendation: avoid aggressive polishing of worn, damaged or partially depleted silver plating. Polishing cannot restore missing silver. For valuable historical or antique instruments, consult a qualified instrument technician before choosing a cleaning method.

Can the Edgware Polishing Cloth be washed?

Unlike ordinary cotton cleaning cloths, the Polishing Cloth contains a special chemical treatment. Washing may remove the active ingredients and reduce its polishing performance.

It is therefore advisable to keep the cloth dry and free from dust, and not to wash it unless the manufacturer specifically instructs otherwise.

Replace the cloth when its polishing effect becomes noticeably reduced.

Care Cloth vs Polishing Cloth

Edgware Care Cloth is ideal for everyday removal of fingerprints, moisture and dust. Edgware Polishing Cloth is designed for polishing silver-plated surfaces and protecting them against renewed tarnishing.

Edgware's environmental approach

BBICO developed the Edgware range with particular attention to product durability and the reduction of unnecessary packaging waste.

The Polishing Cloth is manufactured from cotton and supplied in packaging selected for its recyclable or compostable characteristics.

• Kraft paper: recyclable protective tube.
• NatureFlex: compostable bag made from wood-based cellulose material.
• Label: manufactured in the EU using 100% recycled content.
• Twine: made in the United Kingdom.

Manufactured in the UK, the cloth is a specialist accessory for professional musicians, students, teachers, music schools and orchestras.

Edgware Polishing Cloth helps maintain the appearance of silver-plated instruments while providing additional protection against the recurrence of silver tarnish.