Help! My cutlery is rusting
It is perfectly normal for some moisture spots to remain on your cutlery after, for example, a wash in the dishwasher or, ideally, a hand wash. This can happen once in a while, but the chance of rust increases if this happens regularly or even always.
How does rust form on cutlery?
Usually, the drying of moisture causes a weak spot to form on the cutlery. Over time, brownish-orange spots appear because moisture gets the chance to attack these weak spots multiple times. This is rust. Nowadays, most cutlery sets are subjected to aggressive dishwasher detergents and long dishwasher programs, during which plates, different types of cutlery, and pans are washed at the same time. Chemicals and softening salts thus get the chance to cause stains and corrosion on the cutlery at high temperatures.
If rust forms in the dishwasher, it has three causes:
- Flying rust. As mentioned, other kitchen utensils are often washed within the same wash. Iron objects show rust after a while that eventually comes loose. These rust flakes end up on the other kitchen utensils, including the cutlery.
- Aggressive dishwasher detergents.
- Moisture spots. Moisture gets the chance to attack weak spots on the cutlery because the cutlery is washed within long dishwasher programs and is not dried in time afterwards.
How do I prevent rust?
You prevent rust by immediately rinsing your cutlery with warm water and drying it after use. This way, cooking salts and acidic food residues do not get the chance to stick. Do not use a scouring sponge or steel sponge for this. This damages the cutlery directly and thus causes weak spots. A brush and some dish soap are sufficient to remove the food residues in the right way. If you still want to use the dishwasher, read some tips here. In any case, remove your cutlery from the dishwasher as quickly as possible and dry it immediately. So never run a wash program at night, since the door remains closed for a long time. So after eating, put it in the dishwasher immediately, so the door can be opened for a while before going to bed.
How do I remove rust spots on my cutlery?
It is possible to remove the spots by treating the rust spots by rubbing the product on the spots with a soft sponge and some Cif.
