Can cupronickel be washed in the dishwasher?

cupronickel tablewareOwners of cupronickel tableware and cutlery can be said to be lucky, because among such products there are real rarities. You eat something with a cupronickel spoon and don’t know that it can cost a fortune. It’s all the more offensive if such a spoon or bowl is hopelessly damaged due to improper care. We will try to prevent this and first discuss the question of whether cupronickel can be washed in the dishwasher? Can a dishwasher even ruin a cupronickel item, or is this just idle speculation, let’s find out.

What will happen?

Cupronickel alloy is one of the most resistant. This fact is known to many and this has also given rise to the erroneous statement that cupronickel dishes and cutlery are not afraid of any harsh washing conditions. Meanwhile, washing dishes made from this copper-nickel alloy in the dishwasher is strictly prohibited and for good reason. Of course, under the influence of chemistry and hot water, cupronickel will not collapse, but something will happen to the products that the owner will absolutely not like.

  1. Cupronickel silverware and cutlery will darken greatly.
  2. Any coating on objects made of such an alloy will suffer very quickly.
  3. The design on nickel silver objects will, at best, become more faded, and at worst, will be partially erased.

It is clear that no one would want to use cupronickel dishes blackened in this way.

It is also believed that the coating on nickel silver products reacts with the tablets and powder that are commonly used in the dishwasher.As a result, an oxide film forms on the surface of the product, which makes the dishes not only unsightly, but even hazardous to health. If you value your nickel silver cutlery and crockery, take care of it properly and don't mindlessly shove it into the dishwasher.

Some of our readers are under the impression that many things cannot be washed in the dishwasher. It is not true. There are only a very limited range of items that are dishwasher incompatible, the rest Can be washed in the dishwasher without any harm.

What is the best way to wash and clean?

Cupronickel spoons and other items should not be washed or cleaned using aggressive chemicals. There is a strict ban on contact with chemicals containing alkalis, acids and abrasive particles. But it’s not always possible to wash dishes and cutlery by hand, having only a rag and a large amount of hot water in your arsenal.

Experts recommend soaking very dirty items in a solution of hot water and baking soda. There is no need to keep cupronickel dishes in this solution for a long time. 10 minutes is enough, after which the dishes need to be washed under running water, rubbing them with a sponge. In order for the design and embossing to remain in perfect order, it is necessary to rub nickel silver products with special jewelry pastes and wipe them with special napkins once every 1-2 weeks.

Particular care should be taken when handling cupronickel products with natural gilding.

washing cupronickel dishesIf cupronickel silver cutlery has turned black due to improper care or washing in the dishwasher, do not rush to throw it in the trash. Let's prepare a large metal bowl and put the damaged cutlery in it. Then we'll do the following:

  • take the shells of 5-7 eggs (for the shell of 1 egg there are 2-3 cutlery);
  • crush the shell as thoroughly as possible and place it in a bowl with cutlery;
  • pour the potato broth into a bowl so that the broth covers all the cutlery (excess broth can be obtained when preparing crushed potatoes);
  • put the bowl on the fire and boil for no more than 5 minutes.

As a result, the blackness from the cutlery will be partially, or maybe completely, removed. Repeat this procedure several times, then wipe the cutlery with a napkin with jewelry paste and the objects will be transformed before your eyes.

So, we hope we managed to convince owners of cupronickel silverware and cutlery not to shove these items into the dishwasher. After all, there is a direct threat of losing beautiful products. If you follow simple rules for caring for cupronickel items, they will remain one of the main decorations of your table for many years. Good luck!

   

Reader comments

  • Share your opinion - leave a comment

Add a comment

We recommend reading

Washing machine error codes