KEEP SILVER OUT OF THE DISHWASHER! It’s that simple. There are major reasons for keeping your prized sterling and silverplate out of the dishwasher.
- The harsh detergent, combined with the washer’s high cleaning temperature, is much too abrasive for silver—it will eventually turn it grey or white, with a dull, non-reflective surface.
- Most older and some repaired hollow-handled knives are filled with pitch ( a black tar like substance). This low-melting substance will expand with heat, possibly forcing open a thin solder seam, or exploding the knife blade out of the handle.
Cleaning silver in a dishwasher is not advised, as the heat and harsh detergents will eventually whiten the silver, causing it to require professional refinishing.
If your silver is tarnished to an extent that it requires a commercial polish, use only polishes made specifically for silver.
If you are looking for someone to clean your silver, choose an individual who knows about methods and polishes.
