Advice on Cutlery Care
Even though stainless steel cutlery is the most popular tool in modern gastronomy, it has several issues to keep in mind during use.
Cutlery is not perfectly stain proof
Stainless steel cutlery is stain resistant but it may not be completely stain proof. In order to avoid any chemical harm and keep it in the best condition, Sola recommends to rinse or wash cutlery after every use. Any extended contact with salt, vinegar, egg, tomato sauce, acidic fruits, detergents and selected tap water mineral salts may cause pitting and staining.
Best practice to prolong cutlery life by cutlery manufacturer
Sola Switzerland recommends the following habits for the daily cutlery use:
- Rinse with hot water immediately after use to reduce chemical reaction of salts or acids
- Wash before first use and immediately after each use
- Do not leave to soak in water overnight as mineral salts may attack the metal surface
- Store and wash stainless steel and silver cutlery separately
- Wash knives separately from other cutlery while using dishwasher
- Place spoon bowls and fork tines in an upward position in dishwasher for the best rinse efficiency
- Remove cutlery from the dishwasher and dry immediately. Pay extra attention to knife blades
- Never leave cutlery in a closed, damp dishwasher
- Always follow the dishwasher and detergent manufacturers' instructions for use
Keep cutlery clean and dry after every use
Take extra care with knives, as all blades contain a higher carbon content to provide a sharper cutting edge. However, this means knife blades can be prone to corrosion if not stored properly. Sola recommends not to leave stainless steel cutlery to soak or store it in damp conditions, especially knife blades as it may cause staining and will require re-polishing. Furthermore, the cutlery shine may begin to fade due to normal wear and stainless steel polishers would be required to restore the cutlery shine in its original condition.
Wash silver cutlery separately
Sterling silver cutlery requires even more attention as silver is a soft metal that gets scratched easily. Given proper care, silver cutlery will develop a beautiful sheen over the time. Silver cutlery should be washed separately from the stainless steel cutlery as any contact of these materials may result in chemical reaction that can damage the silver. Use a silver dip or a silver polisher to clean tarnished silver using a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the surface.
Cutlery hand washing vs. dishwashers
Hand washing of the cutlery is recommended with washing up liquid, please avoid any products with abrasive properties. Wire wool or other abrasive cleaners are prohibited. Cutlery should not be left to soak at any time. Hand washing of silver cutlery is preferable and ideally should be done with a mild detergent.
Stainless steel and silver cutlery are suitable for dishwasher machine washing, but it is advisable to rinse off any acidic food before loading to prevent any corrosion. Always remove and hand-dry the cutlery as soon as the wash cycle has finished, cutlery left in damp conditions can become stained or damaged, and never mix silver-plated and stainless steel items in the same washing cycle.
Sola cutlery performance
- Premium 18/10 quality for long lasting shine
- Superior rust and acid resistance
- High gauges for optimal strength
- Industrial dishwasher safe
- Ergonomically designed shapes
- Highly polished mirror finishes