Stainless steel is really nothing more than ordinary iron that has been infused with 10% or more chromium. While stainless steel is great at resisting rust and corrosion that can occur with normal use, it will occasionally become dull.
Stainless steel is well known for its durability and hardness. It is able to stand up beautifully to everyday use. Chromium is used to form an oxide coating on the surface of stainless steel flatware to make it shine and protect the steel on the inside. With continued use and time and extended exposure to elements like hard dishwashing detergents, the hard shell will eventually wear down and lose its luster. This naturally occurs with all flatware, though it shouldn't occur for a long time, dependant on the quality of the stainless steel flatware.
If your flatware is still relatively new and in good shape then there are a number of ways to clean it and restore some of its original shine. One method used to remove streaking is to take a soft dish towel and rub olive oil on the flatware; this should help remove streaks. You can also polish and shine stainless steel flatware by using vinegar and a soft cloth; this will help to remove heat stains from the flatware. If you dont have vinegar, club soda can be used.
Before placing your Towle stainless steel flatware in the dishwasher try to rinse off salty or acidic foods. Sometimes people put utensils in a dishwasher and wait upwards of 3 days to run the dishwasher. This extended time will dull your stainless steel flatware quicker than daily washing. An important note is that detergents are harsh chemicals used to clean off stubborn foods but they can also damage your flatware if they come in contact with flatware which is wet; usually dark spots are the result.
Washing your stainless steel flatware by hand is the best way to take care of it. Simply wash the utensils using warm water and gentle detergent. Immediately dry the silverware by hand to prevent streaking and spotting. If a blur or haze shows up over time, using a gentle silver polish may restore the shine.
Acidic and salty foods are more corrosive than others and should be removed from the stainless steel flatware as soon as possible. Remember to not use harsh abrasives or steel wool on stainless steel as it will scratch the surface and cause additional problems.
How to clean dull stainless steel flatware
Required items: Large bowl for mixing ingredients and soaking items Non gel toothpaste Rubber gloves Lint free soft cloths Bleach Water Paper towels Ammonia cup measuring cup Calgon water softener Silver Polish Stainless steel cleaner: 1 gallon very hot water, 1/4 cup chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup Calgon water softener
Note: Only use this on stainless steel, not real silver!
Combine cup Calgon water softener, 1 gallon hot water and cup bleach. Mix ingredients together in the kitchen sink or any non-aluminum container. Place the stainless steel pieces in the solution, making sure they are completely immersed. Soak the pieces for thirty minutes and then wash them as you usually do, either in the dishwasher or by hand. To remove tough spots, rub some non-gel toothpaste or a mixture of one part ammonia and one part silver polish, using a soft cloth. After the application, rinse and dry the flatware.
Tip: Use these methods only when the stainless steel needs it or has a bluish tint. You will usually need to do this every couple of months.
Stainless steel is well known for its durability and hardness. It is able to stand up beautifully to everyday use. Chromium is used to form an oxide coating on the surface of stainless steel flatware to make it shine and protect the steel on the inside. With continued use and time and extended exposure to elements like hard dishwashing detergents, the hard shell will eventually wear down and lose its luster. This naturally occurs with all flatware, though it shouldn't occur for a long time, dependant on the quality of the stainless steel flatware.
If your flatware is still relatively new and in good shape then there are a number of ways to clean it and restore some of its original shine. One method used to remove streaking is to take a soft dish towel and rub olive oil on the flatware; this should help remove streaks. You can also polish and shine stainless steel flatware by using vinegar and a soft cloth; this will help to remove heat stains from the flatware. If you dont have vinegar, club soda can be used.
Before placing your Towle stainless steel flatware in the dishwasher try to rinse off salty or acidic foods. Sometimes people put utensils in a dishwasher and wait upwards of 3 days to run the dishwasher. This extended time will dull your stainless steel flatware quicker than daily washing. An important note is that detergents are harsh chemicals used to clean off stubborn foods but they can also damage your flatware if they come in contact with flatware which is wet; usually dark spots are the result.
Washing your stainless steel flatware by hand is the best way to take care of it. Simply wash the utensils using warm water and gentle detergent. Immediately dry the silverware by hand to prevent streaking and spotting. If a blur or haze shows up over time, using a gentle silver polish may restore the shine.
Acidic and salty foods are more corrosive than others and should be removed from the stainless steel flatware as soon as possible. Remember to not use harsh abrasives or steel wool on stainless steel as it will scratch the surface and cause additional problems.
How to clean dull stainless steel flatware
Required items: Large bowl for mixing ingredients and soaking items Non gel toothpaste Rubber gloves Lint free soft cloths Bleach Water Paper towels Ammonia cup measuring cup Calgon water softener Silver Polish Stainless steel cleaner: 1 gallon very hot water, 1/4 cup chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup Calgon water softener
Note: Only use this on stainless steel, not real silver!
Combine cup Calgon water softener, 1 gallon hot water and cup bleach. Mix ingredients together in the kitchen sink or any non-aluminum container. Place the stainless steel pieces in the solution, making sure they are completely immersed. Soak the pieces for thirty minutes and then wash them as you usually do, either in the dishwasher or by hand. To remove tough spots, rub some non-gel toothpaste or a mixture of one part ammonia and one part silver polish, using a soft cloth. After the application, rinse and dry the flatware.
Tip: Use these methods only when the stainless steel needs it or has a bluish tint. You will usually need to do this every couple of months.
About the Author:
Shop online for flatware replacements and find more silverware sets on sale at www.TowleStainlessFlatware.com
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