Expert: Michelle Lieberman - 5/27/2009

Question
Good Afternoon Michelle,
I hope the day is treating you well.
My Aunt was at a family function recently and brought some of her silverware over to assist in the feeding of the family.
Afterwards her silverware was run through the dishwasher and has come out discolored and stained.
There are two different types of silverware involved.

William A Rogers Metal plate, Oneida Ltd.
As well as,
Supreme Cutlery, Tawle E.P Korea.
Would you be able to give me some advice as to how to bring this silverware back to life???

Thanks.
Thomas


Answer
Hello Thomas.  

Very interesting.  I normally don't recommend silverplate be put in the dishwasher, but will tell people once in a while is ok.  Repeated dishwashing will whiten the silver (not to mention the heat of the dry cycle can be murder on hollow handled pieces).  I'm wondering if your staining is white or dark.  There are various sodium-based chemicals in the dishwashing soap, and I can see if it's not rinsed properly it may darken the silver after a time.

Sounds to me like you're going to need to polish it.  Since it's silverplate, you'll want to use the most gentle polish you can.  Try a product called Wright's Silver Foam.  If that doesn't do the trick, you'll need to move up on the grit scale with the polish and use a product such as Maas Polishing Creme.  

Good luck.

- Michelle