Can nickel silver be washed in the dishwasher?

Owners of cupronickel tableware and cutlery are lucky, as some of these items are truly rare. You might eat something with a cupronickel spoon and not realize it could be worth a fortune. It's even more of a shame if such a spoon or bowl is irreparably damaged due to improper care. We'll try to prevent this from happening and start by discussing whether cupronickel can be washed in the dishwasher. Can a dishwasher actually damage a cupronickel item, or is this just idle speculation? Let's find out.

What will happen?

Melchior alloy is one of the most durable. This fact is well known, and it has given rise to the erroneous belief that Melchior dishes and cutlery are impervious to harsh cleaning conditions. Meanwhile, washing dishes made from this copper-nickel alloy in a dishwasher is strictly prohibited, and for good reason. Of course, nickel silver will not be destroyed by exposure to chemicals and hot water, but something will happen to the products that the owner will categorically not like.

1. Melchior dishes and cutlery will darken significantly.
2. Any coating on items made from such an alloy will deteriorate very quickly.
3. The design on nickel silver items will at best become more faded, and at worst will partially wear off.

It is clear that no one will want to use nickel silver dishes that have been blackened in this way.

There's also a theory that the coating on nickel silver items reacts with the tablets and powder commonly used in dishwashers. This results in an oxide film forming on the surface, which not only makes the dishes unsightly but can even be hazardous to your health. If you value your nickel silver cutlery and dishes, care for them properly instead of mindlessly throwing them in the dishwasher.

Some of our readers are under the impression that many items are dishwasher-safe. This is not true. There are only a very limited number of items that are dishwasher-safe; the rest dishwasher safe without any harm.

What is the best way to wash and clean?

Melchior spoons and other items should generally not be washed or cleaned with harsh chemicals. Contact with chemicals containing alkalis, acids, and abrasives is strictly prohibited. However, it's not always possible to wash dishes and cutlery by hand, using only a rag and plenty of hot water.

Experts recommend soaking heavily soiled items in a solution of hot water and baking soda. Don't soak nickel silver dishes in this solution for long. 10 minutes is sufficient, after which they should be washed under running water, scrubbing with a sponge. To ensure that the design and embossing remain in perfect condition, it is necessary to rub nickel silver items with special jewelry pastes and wipe them with special napkins once every 1-2 weeks.

Particular care should be taken with nickel silver items that have natural gilding.

If your nickel silver cutlery has turned black due to improper care or washing in the dishwasher, don't rush to throw it in the trash. Prepare a large metal bowl and place the damaged cutlery in it. Then, follow these steps:

• take the shells of 5-7 eggs (for the shell of 1 egg there are 2-3 cutlery);
• crush the shell as thoroughly as possible and place it in a bowl with cutlery;
• pour potato broth into a bowl so that the broth covers all the cutlery (excess broth can be obtained when preparing mashed potatoes);
• Place the bowl on the fire and boil for no more than 5 minutes.

As a result, the black stain will be partially, or perhaps completely, removed from the cutlery. Repeat this procedure several times, then wipe the cutlery with a cloth soaked in jewelry paste, and the items will be transformed before your eyes.

So, we hope we've convinced owners of nickel silver tableware and cutlery not to put these items in the dishwasher. After all, there's a direct risk of losing their beautiful pieces. If you follow simple care guidelines, your nickel silver items will remain a highlight of your table for years to come. Good luck!

   

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