Over the years, the treasured trophy you won for a sporting achievement, a mark of appreciation or as a valued employee may have taken a little damage. Scratches, marks and tarnishing are common problems but can easily be rectified with a little care and attention, bringing back to glory that special award that means so much.
Dirt, grime and smudges
Polished metal surfaces such as silver, brass or stainless steel are a magnet for smudges and fingerprints. Instead of reaching for a chemical metal cleaner, breathing on the smudge followed by a gentle polish with a lint-free cloth usually does the trick. Built up dirt and grime can be effectively removed with a mild detergent, water and a soft cloth, then polished in the same way.
Tarnishing
Badly tarnished metal trophies may need a bit more work with a good quality metal polish. Try a gentle liquid cleaner first, leaving more abrasive paste-cleaners as a last resort. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and wear soft lint-free gloves to eliminate leaving fingerprints on your newly gleaming surface.
Scratches
Shallow scratches can often be polished out, but deeper scratches may require a resin filler, this can be found at most motor-parts retailers. A gold or silver leaf paint could also be used to cover deep marks, followed by a good polish to blend it all in.
Engraved awards with faded lettering could be re-engraved by a specialist engraver, like here at H Cooper Glass Engravers, bringing your special award back to life to be enjoyed for many more years to come.
