Here are INSTRUCTIONS
FOR Washing STERLING SILVER FLATWARE
From
Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance and Repair
- 01500345 10/01/92
Cleaning Silver
Flatware.
Wash in warm sudsy water. Rinse well and dry Do not let hollow handled silverware or hollow ware stand in water as a combination of heat, water, and detergent may loosen soldering.
Washing in a Dishwasher
Silverware may be washed in the dishwasher but the patina on fine silver is
enhanced by the rubbing that occurs when washing and drying by hand.
Hollow handles may be loosened with exposure to heat and detergent in the
dishwasher.
(Note from the Silver Queen The newer silverware is being
made with glue that will withstand the heat . Also when you use your
dishwasher,do not economy dry. Use only your hotdry.)
Electrolytic methods of cleaning with aluminum-salt- soda are not recommended for cleaning silver with an oxidized or French gray finish.
If washing both silverware and
stainless steel flatware in the dishwasher, do not put in the same basket
section or let one metal touch the other, or the silver may be permanently
damaged.
New sterling silverware sometimes gets brown spots after washing in the
dishwasher. Sterling is 92 1/2% silver and 7 1/2% other alloys including copper
for greater durability. In automatic dishwashing, a reaction can occur between
water droplets and the small portion of copper at the surface to cause brown
spots on some pieces. After the silverware has been washed several times, the
copper on the surface is gone and the surface is pure silver. Avoid such
spotting on new silverware by washing and drying new silverware by hand for the
first If you want to use the dishwasher, follow these precautions: Use the
automatic rinse dispenser feature of a dishwasher. The rinse agent lowers the
surface tension of the rinse water so it sheets off the surfaces and droplets
don't form. Or use a rinse agent in solid form that hangs on the dishwasher
rack, if your dishwasher does not have an automatic rinse dispenser.
Remove new silverware from the dishwasher immediately after the last rinse cycle
and towel dry for the first few times.
This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial
products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias
against those not mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU Extension.
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