Should silveware be washed in a dishwasher?
By ray from Ontario, Canada
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I have always washed mine in the dishwasher. The only ones I wouldn't do is ones with wooden or plastic handles.
Another tip, I quit washing anything clear glass in the dishwasher. I always wondered why my glasses invariably came out looking frosty, no matter what brand of soap I used. I ran across a tip about 8 months ago saying the dishwasher was causing it. I bought new glasses and have been washing them by hand ever since and they still look like new.
Use Cascade Platinum and your glasses will be spotless. Old spots and film disappear. AND the inside of the dishwasher shines.
I wouldn't wash silver or silver plate silverware in the dishwasher (or any other silver or silver plated item for that matter) if that's what you were wondering. The hot water and dishwasher detergent in a dishwasher will eventually damage the silver causing it to need professional refinishing.
Just hand wash them with mild soap in warm water. Usually a couple of times a year you'll need to clean them with silver tarnish remover and then just wash them again afterwards in the soapy water.
If you're talking basic flatware that isn't actually silver, every dishwasher has a silverware/flatware basket. However, when we used a dishwasher 30+ years ago, we had to thoroughly rinse and swab everything to loosen the food first. I find I get everything cleaner washing by hand, and wouldn't trust a dishwasher. Washing by hand is greener, anyway.
I know this is an old, old post, but washing dishes by hand uses a lot more water than a dishwasher. A dishwasher will use maybe 3 gallons total, but you'll use 3 gallons in a few minutes if you're washing by hand.
Plus, you don't have to rinse ahead of time anymore. Dishwasher detergent is formulated to work better if there's some food on the plates. Most of our dishes go from table to dishwasher.
I experimented with a glass lasagna pan and didn't soak it first. It came out perfectly clean.
My newer dishwasher does a great job with really dirty dishes too. The only times that things come out with stuck on food is if the soap dispenser is blocked by tall dishes in the front (I stack my plates perpendicular to the dispenser to prevent this) or if the dishwasher was overloaded.
I always have a handful of things that need to be hand washed (cast iron, sharp knives, etc.) but I'm sure I'm saving a lot more water than in the past.
I wash all of my cutlery in the dishwasher. I don't pre-rince anything either, unless it is egg that has dried on. Sometimes a few pieces come out with food still stuck on, but that is usually if the dishwasher is exceeding full. I use stainless steel cutlery all the time, and silver plated cutlery occasionally. All go through the dishwasher perfectly fine.
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