Silver is an element that many of us consider when purchasing jewelry. We love to have earrings, bracelets, and other jewelry we wear that contains silver, and this has made it one of the most valuable commodities on earth. This is why it is referred to as a precious metal.
What you may not be aware of is that silver can actually be used in a wide variety of ways around your home. Here are just some of the great many things that you may find silver in.

Photography - while it is not used as much as it once was, silver still plays a role in the development of photographs. Moving film to paper is done to a process that uses silver halide and this is why it is become so valuable in its use.

Mirrors - mirrors are another way that silver is used, primarily because of the reflective properties it has. While aluminum is one of the most commonly used products for creating mirrors, it only provides 90 percent reflectivity while silver provides anywhere from 95 percent to 99 percent. This is extremely important when you’re talking about such things as telescopes and satellite technology.

Silverware - many still love silver in their cutlery and flatware. Silverware has long been used in forks, knives, spoons, and other items you would use in your kitchen or dining room.
Jewelry - it’s most obvious use is in jewelry. Because of the shine and natural beauty of silver, it can be used to accent and highlight almost any jewelry you would where, including such things as necklaces, bracelets, watches, and hearings. It’s malleability, the ability to conformant in many different ways, make it ideal for use in jewelry.
Stained Glass - silver nitrate is used to produce the yellow color that is found in stained glass.

Coins and other Assets - while not used as much in coins these days, silver was the foundation for many of the U. S. Coins that people purchased. It is also a great investment for those who are looking for a great asset to hold onto that will always increase in value.

Purifying Swimming Pools - if you are looking for a way to clean your pool without causing burning eyes and dry skin, then using products that contain copper and silver units are much more effective than chlorine, and far less irritating.
Food Containers - there are companies in China that are producing great containers for food storage using nano silver. It is highly effective and safe to use.
Washing Machines - in washing machines, silver nano helps to fight bacteria as well as clean close much more thoroughly. This creates a bacteria resistant covering that reduces or eliminates odor altogether. 

Windows - silver is frequently added to the polyester sheets that are used in windows to decrease the amount of light transmission that gets through.
Car Engine Bearings - in car engines, silver is used in the electroplating to protect engine bearings, which reduces heat and friction, extending the life of these bearings.
Brazing and Soldering - one of the original purposes of silver was in brazing and soldering, especially between joints of water pipes or in air-conditioning units. It is still extremely effective in these processes.
Windshields - you may not have known this, but there is a coating contained in your car windshield that actually contains silver. This helps to reduce the amount of heat that comes through your windshield while providing additional protection.
Ice-Making - because of the properties of silver, it is great at eliminating such things as bacteria, mold, and algae, pathogens that become a serious problem in icemaking machines. By providing a silver coating microbes are unable to reproduce in the machines.
As you can see, the use of silver goes far beyond jewelry and cutlery. It is used in a wide variety of ways, making it a truly precious metal. Unfortunately, the amount of silver on the planet is decreasing rapidly, meaning that if you have invested money in silver, you may have done something really smart!