Silver, as a standalone metal, is too soft to use for fashioning into objects, thus the common standard for Sterling silver is an alloy mix of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Copper is used because it does not alter the appearance of silver when it is mixed with it. Most silver trays that you buy these days are, or at least should be, made from this alloy combination.
Silver can be notoriously difficult to care for, though an interesting point worth noting is that silver that is used regularly is far less apt to tarnish than silverware that is not used. So, if you are concerned about keeping your silver looking shiny and bright the first step is to make sure that you use it on a regular basis. Silver trays are used for many different purposes. Many tea sets stand on silver trays, and in fact a tray is often part of a silver tea set. You can also use silver trays for serving food and snacks. It is probably best not to have objects standing on them for long periods of time however. Basically, with a silver tray, you should use it and then wash it and put it away as soon as you are done. Be careful about spilling food and drinks on the tray; if anything does spill you will want to clean it up immediately.
You can tell when a tray is beginning to tarnish, as you will see a yellowish glint appear in the metal. Fortunately, when it is in this state it is relatively easy to clean it and keep it tarnish free. All you need do is mix up some windex and vinegar and wipe the tray with it. You should use cotton, dab it into the Windex and vinegar mix and then gently polish the spot that is beginning to yellow, using small circular motions. As soon as any of the tarnish comes off onto the cotton, change your piece of cotton–you should always use a fresh, clean piece of cotton when cleaning silverware as otherwise the tarnish that comes off onto the cotton can actually scratch the tray.
Other than that, caring for a tray is usually fairly straightforward. You should not put your tray in the dishwasher–wash it by hand, separately and dry it with a soft cloth immediately afterwards. Make sure your dishwashing liquid is phosphate free, in other words do not use the common ‘lemon scented’ dishwashing liquid but rather use a more pure liquid. It goes without saying that you should not cut fruit or any other items directly on the tray either as even little scratches on the surface will lead to tarnishing.
