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Dishwashing silver plate cutlery?

(15 Posts)
SusieB50 Sat 20-Jul-19 17:29:38

I'm clearing my deceased parents house , and there is a large amount of silver plate cutlery and I 'm thinking of taking one complete set without bone handles . We have to have a house clearance but it seems a shame to leave it all . The chap who came to look at clearing it, said no-one wants it nowadays . My question is can it go in the dishwasher ? I've looked on line some say yes and some say never ever ! I don't want to have to hand wash it each time .

kittylester Sat 20-Jul-19 17:31:52

I wouldn't risk it!

grannysue05 Sat 20-Jul-19 17:35:00

Silver plate cutlery can go in the dishwasher if there are no bone handles.
I always used to wash mine with a scrunched up ball of silver foil in the cutlery basket. This apparantly cleans the silver well.
However, I never use my sets now because you have to periodically use silver polish and clean them thoroughly.
Such a faff. No time for all that nowadays.
So think carefully. Do you really want to be bothered ?

Elegran Sat 20-Jul-19 18:27:31

I think (but could be wrong) that there would be problems if you had cutlery of two types of metal in the dishwasher together. The combination of strong dishwasher tablets, all the swishing about, and very hot water sets up a chemical reaction between the metals (or maybe it all acts as a battery as an electricity-producing process - one of GN's scientists may be able to clarify) which blackens the silver-plating. This could be entirely wrong, but I have a vague memory of hearing some such thing.

Nortsat46 Sat 20-Jul-19 18:29:03

My view would be to take it and use it occasionally.
It's a long time since both of my parents died, but I find pleasure in using / having some of their things.
Enjoy the cutlery and bung it in the dishwasher...

aggie Sat 20-Jul-19 18:54:28

try a couple of items first , I have a lovely set but the bone handles mean they are never used . Another canteen with wooden handles and steel are not able to go in either , so both sets are useless

kittylester Sat 20-Jul-19 18:54:58

I took things like special spoons, pickle forks and sugar tongs and sifters and display them with my other bits of silver!

Which reminds me, it all needs cleaning! blush

Pantglas1 Sat 20-Jul-19 19:08:43

I use my mum & dad’s wedding present cutlery every day and put it in the dishwasher but separate from any stainless steel because of the chemical reaction.

I Bought the cylinder (with basket for cutlery) silver dip which takes 6 spoons, forks etc at a time so it is literally in, out and rinse under cold tap.

I’ve also lined the drawer where they live with the silver polishing cloths which seems to stop them tarnishing as much. I love setting the table for dinner - it looks so much nicer than stainless steel and wish my mum was around to see it all. She kept it all for best and it rarely got used - life is not a dress rehearsal, do it now!

SusieB50 Mon 22-Jul-19 17:32:40

Thanks all - no internet all yesterday : Virgin is just awful at the moment .I've decided to take it, and use it but will try out a few bits first in the dishwasher .There is so much of it, sugar bowls, christening mugs , candle sticks to name but a few .A lot was my maternal grandmother's. But really we have little room to store it . My siblings want none and the grandchildren have taken a small item each. Thing is my mother used very little of it, just was stored in the sideboard and various cupboards for years and years so don't feel that bad at getting rid of it all .

Mapleleaf Wed 24-Jul-19 13:10:07

I've got some that I use occasionally. I don't wash it in the dishwasher. To be honest, the cutlery doesn't take much effort to wash in hot, soapy water. My everyday cutlery goes in the dishwasher, however.

Deedaa Wed 24-Jul-19 19:39:08

I've got my mother's canteen of silver plated cutlery with bone handles. It was presented to my grandfather in the 1930s. It gets used at Christmas and is then hand washed and put away till next year.

SpringyChicken Wed 24-Jul-19 21:57:38

I always thought silver/plate had to be hand washed. Is there any information on the box of dishwasher tablets? I put a silver plated cake slice in the dishwasher and ruined it. No amount of polishing reverses the damage.
If you don't have the room, resist the temptation to keep too much. It's not highly valuable and it will become a millstone for you like it was for your mother.

Greyduster Wed 24-Jul-19 22:20:52

I would never put mine in the dishwasher - I use John Lewis silver foam, which you apply with the wet sponge supplied and then simply wash off in soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. Quick and easy. It was a wedding present from my parents fifty three years ago. I wouldn’t do anything to put it at risk.

Bagatelle Wed 24-Jul-19 22:39:29

Mine goes in the dishwasher. When it needs cleaning, I use Silver Dip. It has been used about once a week for 30 years and is doing well apart from a bit of wear on the spoons. I use Finish liquid, which says it's suitable for glass, and no more than I think I need. I never put glasses in the dishwasher, though.

NotSpaghetti Wed 24-Jul-19 23:09:26

Hello, like Pantglas1 I put my parents' silver plate cutlery in the dishwasher all the time but it must NOT touch any stainless steel in the dishwasher. Put them at opposite ends of the basket and check they won't lean on the door.
I have bizarrely ruined the odd stainless item this way - but the silver plate has always cleaned up when there's been a mistake.
Use them and enjoy them!