Rusty cutlery from the dishwasher

Jet

I've owned a dishwasher for years and had the same cutlery for years - stainless steel, not great quality.

Recently I've noticed all my cutlery has really bad rust spots on them. Is this just a natural process from using a dishwasher or is there too much salt in the machine or something?

I'm always having to replace glasses because of the clouding which I believe is caused by the salt scratching the surface of the glass.

I'm now seriously thinking of replacing all my cutlery, but am I going to get the same problem again?

belfastgirl23

Just to say that we def have the problem with the cutlery even though we don't really use the salt (so our glasses are okay). Would using a different type of cutlery work? Ours isn't that expensive either..

Le_Foot

Hi, I too have recently started having rust spots on my ss cutlery in the dishwasher. Also noticed it has been using excessive salt, and had streaky glasses. I have altered the rate the machine uses salt (directions in owners manual) Will know soon if this has worked

Agapanthus

Good quality stainless steel cutlery shouldn't develop rust spots. They are caused by impurities in the stainless steel - specks of unalloyed iron that go rusty. I've got one or two knives that's happened to - but never the best quality set - I've been dishwashing those daily for 36 years now and they're fine!

Either washing and thoroughly drying the cutlery by hand or replacing it is the only real solution.

The glasses problem mentioned by Jet can have two causes:

1) Deposits from hard water. If your machine has a water softener and you've kept the salt filled up then this shouldn't happen, but if it does than the cloudiness will disappear if you soak the glasses in vinegar. (How OS is that?:rotfl: ) If it doesn't disappear, then it's due to

2) Which is caused by alkaline dishwasher powder 'etching' the glass. In that case, the only cure is to throw the glass away. It's generally the lower quality glasses that fare best in the dishwasher - you should never dishwash crystal glasses (here comes the science bit: the crystal contains lead and it's that combining with the alkaline that causes the cloudiness). Buy cheap ones and throw them away when they get too cloudy. Some detergents claim to be better than others for this, but they all do it to some extent.

Jet

So anyone got any recommendations for good quality cutlery then? :rolleyes:

belfastgirl23

I'd like to know too - agapanthus is your cutlery still available?

sandy2_2

Would it work if you used vim on the rust marks?

Jet

sandy2 wrote: »

Would it work if you used vim on the rust marks?

I can remove the rust marks with cif but the marks keep coming back and I really don't want to clean the cutlery up everytime I get it out of the dishwasher, nor do I want to wash it by hand. :rolleyes:

I'm thinking of getting this - good enough quality I wonder and a 10 year guarantee. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8200338.htm

Le_Foot

I've had a dishwasher for 15 years, and the same stainless steel cutlery. This rusting never happened until the dishwasher threw a wobbly and started using all the salt up every couple of cycles. Also there was a taste of salt on the cups.. I am certain it was all due to the excessive salt. When I checked the salt programme it was D5, I've altered it to D2 and we shall see tomorrow (I've filled the dishwasher tonight, it will be on overnight---I'll let you know Monday---going away for the weekend :j . will be:beer: (taking it with us of course, can't afford show prices)

EmRayMarRhys

My mum told me that if I get the cutlery out pretty much as soon as the dishwasher has finished (use gloves it's pretty hot) and dry them straight away with a tea towel the rust spots can be lessened. It's worked so far...

Essex-girl_2

I agree with the above.

I now buy cheap cutlery and replace it ever so often.