I recently received a very old chainmail sterling purse from my mother; it was apparently *her* grandmother's. It's a cute little flappery purse that might possibly fit an iphone if you didn't put in anything else. I think it used to be lined with kidskin, but that part has given up the ghost and now what is left is a small, quite heavy, solid sterling chainmail purselet with a snap closure and little dangles on the bottom.

I don't necessarily want to clean off the patina, which I quite like, but the purse feels unpleasantly greasy. Kindof like a sweater or jacket when it's washed too seldom. Anyone know how I can clean it? Maybe a brief bath in some Palmolive? (I know that's what they used on the ceiling of Grand Central Station and even possibly - gasp - on the Sistine chapel to gently clean off dirt.)