How Do I Clean Old Stainless Steel Flatware?
Stainless steel flatware has become the utensil of choice for the American home, and this sturdy utilitarian ware takes some abuse. Flatware often sits in the dishwasher for a few days with acid food particles, then it is cleaned with chlorine water and harsh detergents. You can keep your stainless steel looking like new with easy-to-find products, some you may already have. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Olive oil
- Club soda
- Vinegar
- Glass cooktop cleaner
- Metal cleaner
- Oxalic acid
Instructions
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Rinse stainless steel flatware after a meal to avoid stains, rust and pitting. Use a dishwasher if you want, but put the stainless in the basket with the knife handles up, other handles down, Oneida recommends. Do not include non-stainless items in the basket with the stainless flatware. Combining stainless with other metals, (particularly aluminum), sharp knives and rusty utensils may cause damage.
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Find the source of the stains or rust spots on your stainless. For some, it is chemicals in water; for others, it may be high chlorine content in the water combined with very hot dishwasher water. Dishwasher detergent spilled on the silverware may cause dark spots and dishwashing detergent with citrus or chlorine is often problematic. Other causes of damage are acidic foods, mayonnaise, citrus products like lemon or salty foods. Cooking heat may cause rainbows.
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Clean stainless flatware with vinegar on a soft cloth. Do not leave it to soak in vinegar, but rub it with a vinegar-soaked cloth to clean problem areas, then rinse. Club soda or olive oil will usually clean streaks on stainless flatware, too.
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Use glass cooktop cleaner for stainless flatware that does not respond to vinegar. Apply cooktop cleaner with a soft cloth and rub the spots, rust or rainbows. Rinse and dry.
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Try a metal cleaner like Regent’s E-Z Shine if the glass cooktop cleaner is not the solution for you. Regent’s contains ammonia and cleans stainless as well as other metals. Apply with a soft cloth and let dry, and then buff with a dry cloth and wash before using.
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Clean stubborn spots with a cleaner containing oxalic acid. Zud and Barkeeper’s Friend are two products that work to clean old stainless flatware. Make a paste with water and rub with a soft wet cloth. Wash and dry before using.
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Tips & Warnings
Never mix chemicals when cleaning stainless steel flatware. Use one and wash and rinse before using another.
Avoid using any product containing bleach or chlorine on stainless flatware and do not use any abrasive like steel wool or stiff scrubbers. These will cause permanent damage.
References
- Photo Credit Three spoons image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
