Because exposure to the air will accelerate the tarnishing of your precious sterling silver items, whenever possible you should store them in an airtight silverware chest. If this is not something you have then you can use Tupperware or even bags made of cloth that is tarnish resistant.

Some things you should not do is to store sterling silver items loose in drawers. Beside being exposed to the air in a drawer, they can also be easily scratched. In addition, some woods actually contain acids that will stain your silver. Other things people sometimes do that damages their sterling silver is to wrap in newspaper, plastic, or foil, or bind silverware together with rubber bands. Also be sure to keep your silver away from direct sunlight and dampness.

A little bit of extra time spent in care will go a long way in preserving your precious silver items.