Why can't I wash my sterling silver in the dishwasher?

[Kay in Cal]

During our move we have managed to misplace the box with our everyday cutlery--it's Oneida stainless steel. However, I was able to find right away my big wooden box of inherited sterling. So, of course, the "good" silver that I only use once a year has become our everyday silver for now.

I'm getting tired of washing this stuff by hand, but my mom always said that good china and good silver had to be washed by hand. My china has gold on it, so that seems to make sense--it might wear off. But the silver? Will I really ruin it with a run through the dishwasher?

[Dana in OR]

You may ruin it. Dishwasher soap is too harsh for silver and will probably discolor it at the very least. It may leave a reside and pit the surface. Don't ask how I know.:blush:

[Kay in Cal]

Sigh. I was afraid of that.

It's been over a week, and there is no sign of the box with my everyday silverware! Arrgh! I sure hope it hasn't been lost... we almost accidentally threw out our wedding album in this move when a box of pictures got mixed up in the boxes of trash for the dump. During our "decluttering" as we moved we had dozens of boxes for goodwill, a bunch of stuff freecycled, as well as three big truckloads of trash. Luckily the friend I had hired to haul the trash to the dump for us noticed as he was about to throw it and made a quick rescue!

[Remudamom]

Now I'm going to stay very calm here, and I want you to listen very carefully............ "DON'T. PUT. STERLING SILVER IN. DISHWASHER!"

Do we understand each other clearly now? If I catch you thinking about this again I'll have to take steps. It is no big deal to wash it by hand, even daily. I wouldn't dream of putting mine in the dishwasher, my mil put mine in once and almost ruined it.

[Carol in Cal.]

This is because you don't touch it as much, so the safety issues are less serious, and also because it needs to be stronger to work without the rubbing action of a sponge or dishrag.

Also, if there is any stainless in with the silver, it sets up a galvanic cell and makes the silver corrode.

I have occasionally accidentally put a spoon or two through the dishwasher with no ill effects, but I figure that I was just lucky that nothing happened.

[Ellie]

*silverplate* cannot. There's something about the metal under the silverplate reacting to the detergent. Something like that.

::ducking and hiding from Remudamom.::

Read these links about sterling silver in the dishwasher:

http://www.westernsilver.com/sterling_flatware_care.html

http://www.beverlybremer.com/new_uses.php

http://www.silverqueen.com/AskUs/Dishwasher.htm

[Miss Sherry]

If you given in to temptation and put it in the dishwasher you may just wish you had gone out and purchased a set or two of everyday silverware while waiting to find what is still packed away. Sorry. :001_huh:

[WTMindy]

My grandma always said, "Life is too short to not use your good silverware and put it in the dishwasher. This stuff is going to outlive me!" It did, but her words live on around our house.

[Kay in Cal]

Hmmm... Ok, it is marked as "Sterling". Though I don't know if it was manufactured before or after 1958 -- it's Towle Old Colonial, a pattern that has apparently been around since 1895, and is still made, yet I inherited it from a great aunt who died in her 90s about 10 years ago.
I washed it by hand. :tongue_smilie:

[TraceyS/FL]

Look in the box labeled, "junk drawer" - you know the one that your SIL packed for you.

Because, well, it was LONG 3 months..... :glare: