PREVENTING RUST SPOTS ON CUTLERY
WASHED IN YOUR DISHWASHER
This information has been supplied by BENCKISER Australia/New Zealand
who manufacture Finish Dishwashing Products
- Most cutlery is made of stainless steel and it is recommended that care be taken when a combination of stainless steel and other metals are washed in a dishwasher.
- During the wash cycle, there are a number of factors that can combine to cause minor rusting on stainless steel items. In unusual circumstances, a reaction can occur between the water minerals present in a particular area, sulphide in food scraps, stainless steel and other metals. That is, there may be a unique combination of things that are causing the pitting/rusting
- Furthermore, if the base metal on a particular product is exposed (eg iron pots) this can add to the amount of metal in the wash cycle. These additional metals can become “electrolytically plated’ to other minerals in the wash and start to rust other items in the dishwasher.
- Another contributing factor may be that the cutlery is left for some time with an acidic type of food stain attached before it is washed. This can weaken the stainless steel and make it vulnerable to pitting/rusting, especially when the factors described above are present.
- It is likely the stains are treatable with a phosphoric acid based cleaner, such as Brasso.
- Although the rust stains are probably not reversible, once the cutlery is cleaned and the marks are not readily apparent, in future, it may be advisable to use Finish Liquid for the dishwasher, as this is the best product available to reduce the risk of pitting/rusting occurring in the future.
- It may also be advisable to remove stainless steel items from the dishwasher before the drying cycle, so the steel is not exposed to high temperature steam. This steaming process can accelerate the return of rusting on the item.
Caring For Your Stainless Steel
· Rinse your stainless steel with clean water after it may have had contact with food acids
· Special Stainless Steel Cleaners can be used to tackle persistent stains
· Don’t worry if Stainless Steel appears to mark. Usually it is not the steel but something deposited on it that is causing the apparent ‘stain’.
Avoid contact with:
· Silver Dip Cleaners: These are harmful because they contain strong acids which may cause discolouration and pitting. The fist sign is an iridescent rainbow stain which turns a dull grey colour. Rinse off immediately with clean water.
· Corrosive Foodstuffs: Fruit juices, damp salt, vinegar, ready made mustards, pickles and mayonnaise will cause staining if left in contact with the surface for very long periods. Rinse in clear water after using with these products
· Acids: Sulphuric, hydrochloric and other strong acids
· Bleaches: Most common domestic bleaches contain chlorine which can damage stainless steel.