Care for your cutlery

Caring for your cutlery

Clean, Dry, Store & Prevent Rust

We use cutlery daily, but small mistakes in cleaning and storage can dull the finish, cause rust spots and shorten its life. Follow these simple steps to keep stainless steel and silver cutlery looking its best.

Quick Steps

4 simple steps to follow everytime you clean your cutlery.

Step 1

Rinse soon after use (especially after acidic / salty foods.)

Step 2

Hand-wash gently with a soft microfibre cloth or non-abrasive brush.

Step 3

Dry immediately with a lint-free cloth to prevent watermarks.

Step 4

Store in a cutlery tray. Wrap up silverware for extra protection.

Hand washing cutlery

After using cutlery, it is important that you rinse as soon as you can to avoid any food debris sticking to the cutlery and causing damage. It is then generally recommended for all cutlery, especially silverware, to be gently hand-washed as it minimises the risk of scratches and damage from dishwashers.

It is best to use a microfibre cloth or a non-abrasive brush as scrubbing with pads or abrasive cleaners will scratch your utensils and reduce their lifespan.

The importance of drying cutlery properly

For a pristine finish for your cutlery, it is advised that you use a dry microfibre cloth as they are highly absorbent. Ensuring your cloth is lint-free is also fundamental for drying as this prevents leaving any fibres on the cutlery.

Drying your cutlery properly prevents water marks appearing, tarnishing, rust or corrosion, and leaves your cutlery looking shiny new. It is best to use a microfibre cloth or a non-abrasive brush as scrubbing with pads or abrasive cleaners will scratch your utensils and reduce their lifespan.

Dishwashing cutlery

Does it damage cutlery?

It's true, we tend to just place cutlery in the dishwasher for ease and convenience, but in doing so we’re reducing the lifespan of our silverware. Always make sure you’re only putting uncoated cutlery (like stainless steel) into the dishwasher, as coated cutlery is not suitable! Before loading, scrape off any large food particles to improve cleaning results and help your cutlery last longer.

It's also important to separate your cutlery by type (knives, forks, spoons) to ensure thorough cleaning. If your dishwasher has a rack with slots place knives with the blade down and forks and spoons with the tines or bowls up. 

As for the right dishwasher cycle, the normal or auto cycle on your dishwasher is typically sufficient. But for silver cutlery avoid high heat and wash gently. A favourite amongst people for dishwasher tablets/detergent is usually ones by Fairy or Finish.

Remember, It is vital to only put uncoated cutlery into the dishwasher, such as stainless steel. Coated cutlery is not dishwasher suitable.

Top tips to remember when dishwashing cutlery

Clean the dishwasher filter regularly to stop residue building up on cutlery.
Wash stainless-steel cutlery separately from other metals to reduce rust spots.
Pre-rinse lightly to remove large particles of food.
Alternate the directions of things like spoons to prevent them from "nesting" tightly together.

Is it time for a fresh set of cutlery?

Perhaps you're long overdue for a new fresh set of cutlery or maybe you're looking to upgrade your dining experience.

Discover the best selling Salter cutlery sets today.

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