To fully enjoy your silver or silver-plated cutlery, you will certainly want to put it in the dishwasher. Here are some precautions to keep it as shiny as the first day.

1. Prefer washing powder rather than liquids that contain oxidizing and corrosive substances.
2. Plan a little hand pre-wash if your cutlery has been in contact with egg, lemon or mustard which can cause your silverware to yellow, particularly visible on the tines of forks.
3. Wash knives immediately after use with the blade facing down and the handle facing up.
4. Never mix your silver or silver-plated cutlery with other metals (stainless steel for example) in the same basket because silver tarnishes on contact with them. It is better to have two separate sets of dishes.
5. At the end of the cleaning cycle, dry them properly if necessary; water and humidity are not compatible with metal.
6. Store cutlery in a case to prevent oxidation caused by air; the primary cause of silverware turning black.
7. Be careful, cutlery with handles that are not made of silver or silver-plated metal will probably not be dishwasher safe; you will have to resolve to cleaning them by hand and drying them carefully before storing them. Use a mild soap that does not contain chlorine, citric acid or citrus or lemon fragrances that could tarnish your silverware.
8. The blades of old-fashioned knives are sometimes forged from another metal, such as steel, for example.

Silverware shouldn't just be used for special occasions, using it often keeps it looking beautiful.

©Myriam Thibaut de Maisières