Can silverware be washed in the dishwasher?

It seemed to us that few people would think of washing high-quality silverware in the dishwasher, but we were wrong. There are many readers who ask: can silverware be washed in the dishwasher? And there are those who don’t even ask, but immediately wash it and get a disastrous result. In this article, we want to warn you against rash actions by telling you what can happen to silver items after contact with the dishwasher.

Why not?

Why silver cutlery may not survive many hours of washing in the dishwasher. The main reason lies in detergents for PMM. Tablets and powders contain components that react with silver. As a result, silver spoons, forks and knives become similar to aluminum ones. Spoons and forks become covered with a dark coating, which is very difficult, almost impossible, to clean off.

The situation is even worse with silver utensils: dishes, bowls, trays, etc. After washing them once in the dishwasher, nothing may happen to them, but 2-3 washes can simply kill the dishes. Traces of oxide will then not be able to be removed even with the help of special means, so think a thousand times before stuffing a silver item into the PMM dish basket. “Experienced” users give dozens of recommendations regarding washing silver in the dishwasher. Instead of special powder and tablets, they suggest using:

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

Such “helpful tips” do not stand up to criticism.Lemon and vinegar will provoke oxidation processes on the surface of silver objects even faster. It is strictly forbidden to use such chemicals when caring for silver. Mustard should not be poured into the dishwasher at all, as it will swell and clog in the filter and pipes, causing the user a lot of trouble. Well, borax by itself will not wash dishes at all, so using it in a dishwasher is not at all advisable.

The use of baking soda is considered relatively safe for silver. But her silver is not washed, but cleaned.

Why shouldn't you wash silver cutlery and dishes in the dishwasher? The answer is simple - it will go bad. We say this with complete confidence, but if you really want to try it, don’t shove all the silver you have into the PMM at once. Stick in one teaspoon and see what happens, but it’s better not to do this, listen to good advice!

Tips for caring for silver

Silver items are completely incompatible with PMM. By the way and porcelain dishes in the dishwasher You can’t wash it either, but this is a subject for a separate discussion, since there are nuances in this issue. How, then, to properly care for silver objects, how to wash off food residues from them without damaging them?

Use warm water and soap to wash silver items. Warm water can remove most food debris, and soap will help remove grease. Rinse the items under running water, wipe with a cloth with a small amount of baking soda and put them in a special case. Under no circumstances should you store silver items in an open place or even in direct sunlight.

Even with proper washing, silver darkens over time and loses its unsurpassed shine. Can it be returned? 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 to the water. In this solution, you need to thoroughly wash silver objects, and then polish them with a dry and clean velvet or felt cloth.

A paste consisting of tooth powder mixed with ammonia also returns the shine to silver. Take a tablespoon of tooth powder and drop five drops of ammonia into it. Mix and use the resulting paste to clean tarnished objects. After such cleaning they will shine again.

Summarize. Silver should not be washed in a PMM, only by hand, and it must be cared for correctly, otherwise it will lose its magnificent appearance in a couple of years. Good luck!

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