Is it safe to wash silverware in the dishwasher?

We thought few people would consider washing high-quality silverware in the dishwasher, but we were wrong. Many readers have asked: can silverware be washed in the dishwasher? And some don't even ask, instead washing it straight away and getting disastrous results. In this article, we want to warn you against this rash action by explaining what can happen to silverware after contact with the dishwasher.

Why not?

Why might silver cutlery fail after hours in the dishwasher? The main reason lies in dishwasher detergents. Tablets and powders contain components that react with silver. As a result, silver spoons, forks, and knives become coated with a dark film that is very difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

The situation is even worse with silverware: dishes, bowls, trays, etc. After one wash in the dishwasher nothing may happen to them, but 2-3 washes can simply kill the dishes.Oxidation stains cannot be removed even with specialized products, so think twice before putting a silver item in the dishwasher's dish rack. Experienced users offer dozens of recommendations for washing silver in the dishwasher. Instead of special powder and tablets, they recommend using:

• citric acid;
• vinegar;
• mustard;
• borax and other household chemicals.

Such "helpful tips" don't stand up to scrutiny. Lemon and vinegar will accelerate oxidation on the surface of silver items. Using such chemicals when cleaning silver is strictly prohibited. Mustard should never be used in the dishwasher, as it will swell and clog the filter and pipes, causing a host of problems for the user. And borax alone won't clean dishes at all, so using it in the dishwasher is completely inadvisable.

Baking soda is considered relatively safe for silver. However, it's not used for washing silver, but for cleaning.

Why shouldn't you wash silverware and dishes in the dishwasher? The answer is simple: they'll ruin it. We say this with complete confidence, but if you really want to try, don't just shove all your silverware in the dishwasher at once. Try putting a teaspoon in and see what happens, but it's best not to do that; heed our advice!

Silver Care Tips

Silver items are completely incompatible with PMM. By the way,porcelain dishes in the dishwasher It also shouldn't be washed, but that's a topic for another discussion, as there are nuances to this issue. So how do you properly care for silver items, and how can you remove food residue without damaging them?

To wash silver items, use warm water and soap. Warm water will remove most food residue, and soap will help remove grease. Rinse the items under running water, wipe with a cloth soaked in baking soda, and store in a special case. Never store silver items outdoors or in direct sunlight.

Even with proper washing, silver darkens over time and loses its unrivaled shine. Is it possible to return it? Of course, you need to pour 1 liter of warm water into a container, add a tablespoon of ammonia and a drop of liquid soap. Thoroughly wash the silver items in this solution, then polish them with a dry, clean velvet or felt cloth.

A paste made from tooth powder mixed with ammonia also restores shine to silver. Take a tablespoon of tooth powder and add five drops of ammonia. Stir and use the resulting paste to clean tarnished items. After this cleaning, they will shine again.

To summarize, silver should never be washed in a dishwasher, only by hand, and it must be cared for properly; otherwise, it will lose its magnificent appearance in just a couple of years. Good luck!

   

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