You open the dishwasher after washing a batch of dishes to discover that some pieces of your silverware have dark stains on them. When you take a closer look, you discover that these are rust spots!

This can be quite annoying, but don’t worry – there are steps you can take to avoid this occuring again.

Why do my dishwasher’s brown marks on my cutlery?

Dishwashers create brown markings on silverware for a variety of reasons, including residue buildup from a previous wash cycle, poor detergent application, and hard water cleaning.Of course, we must not overlook the possibility that the brown stains are caused by rust on your silverware.

Dishwashers include a mechanical counter that keeps track of how many times your dishwasher has been used. This can lead to dishwashing fatigue, which can lead to residue accumulation. That being stated, here are some possible explanations for why your dishwasher is leaving brown streaks on your flatware.

Why Do Dishwashers Leave Brown Marks on Cutlery?

1. Residue Accumulation

When your machine is kept in standby mode for an extended amount of time without being used, it does not always entirely empty of water before sitting there unused again.So, when you switch it back on to complete another load of dishes, you may see that some residue from a prior cycle is still present.

2. Tough Water

If you have hard water and live in an area where minerals such as calcium and magnesium are present, you will notice spots on your dishes caused by these mineral deposits as well as any other residues that were not properly cleaned off by the detergent or soap product used during your last wash cycle. Overloading your machine can also cause this, since it stops it from thoroughly cleaning up all of those sticky areas before they dry.

3. Improper Detergent and/or Product Use

People sometimes overburden their machines with soaps, rinses, softeners, and other additives, especially when attempting to remove persistent stains from their dishes. To ensure that your machine does its job effectively, only use what it suggests in terms of volume and kind; otherwise, you may wind up with a lot more work than you paid for.

4.  rusting

Rusting happens when metallic materials are exposed to air and water. This is a normal chemical reaction that affects all metals and does not necessarily indicate that your dish washer is defective. Corrosion can be accelerated by using salty or acidic water.

Given that dishwashers operate at high temperatures and employ harsh chemicals from detergents, the brown markings on your silverware might be rust buildup from everyday usage of the dishwasher to clean your cutlery.

Why Does My Dishwasher Cutlery Tarnish?

There are various reasons why your silverware tarnishes in the dishwasher. Tarnishing indicates that your silverware has darkened due to the following factors.

The Process of Natural Oxidation

When silver is exposed to oxygen, it tarnishes. By keeping your silverware in a sealed container or wrapping it in an airtight plastic bag, you may slow down this natural process. If your silverware has already become tarnished due to oxidation, storing it in a sealed container will not prevent it from deteriorating further.

Chemical, heat, salt, grease, or moisture damage

Certain cleaning agents containing strong chemicals or abrasives might cause your silverware to discolour. Avoid using dishwashing detergents since they are typically too abrasive on silver. Heating your cutlery in the dishwasher might also cause it to tarnish more rapidly.Because salt pulls moisture from your hands when you hold it, exposing silver to salt accelerates oxidation and tarnishing.

Rust

When metallic surfaces are exposed to both oxygen and water, rusting happens, and there is no better location for corrosion to occur than in your dishwasher during a wash cycle. When your silverware is exposed to the high temperatures and harsh chemicals needed to run your dishwasher, it becomes an excellent rust catalyst.

How to Prevent Cutlery Rusting in the Dishwasher？

Dishwashers employ chemicals to properly clean your dishes. Check that these chemicals are suitable with your other kitchen equipment, particularly those that will come into touch with food and water, such as cutlery. If you want to keep it gleaming, here’s how to protect it from being tarnished in the dishwasher.

a)  Rinse your cutlery beforehand.

Because salt and acid may accelerate tarnishing, washing your silverware in hot water before putting it in the dishwasher can help remove any residue. The higher the temperature of the water, the better.It’s also a good idea to avoid placing objects with a high silver content in the dishwasher since they may tarnish faster than others.

b)  Wash Immediately Following Use

If you can’t keep your silverware somewhere free of dust and debris, you should try to wash it right away. Make an effort to do the task thoroughly.

c)  Limit Your Detergent Use

To keep your silverware from tarnishing, ensure sure your detergent is compatible with the rest of your kitchen equipment. If not, use a product formulated exclusively for cleaning silver or stainless steel. It’s also vital not to overfill your dishwasher with detergent, since this can cause discolouration and damage to silver-plated goods.