Spots on Flatware

[spiceman1957]

I have been being to post this question for a long time but did not think it of till tonight when I unloaded my dishwasher. Is there anything that can be done to eliminate brown spotting on flatware. I use Cascade with Dawn along with a rinse agent. Any suggestions?
John

 

[whirlcool]

We had this problem when we tried dishwasher detergent without phosphates.

Since we have been adding STPP to the DW detergent the problem goes away.
I know what you mean, the spots are usually on knives that have been used with acidic items like cutting tomatoes.

 

[spiceman1957]

Thanks Whirlcool

Now, what is STPP?
John

 

[joe_in_philly]

Are the spots hard to remove? I use Bon Ami powder to gently remove spots from knives and cheaper flatware. I think you should rinse off acidic things if you are not going to run the dishwasher right away, but I have to admit I rarely do. It often takes several days for us to get a full load, and I don't prerinse. [this post was last edited: 8/12/2010-12:02]

 

[spiceman1957]

I usually take a Brillo pad

to remove the spots. I don't want to wash my flatware by hand but I just wish there is something I can use, or if I need to switch DW power/liquid. Whirlcool mentioned STPP but not sure what this is and were it can be purchased.
John

 

[joe_in_philly]

STPP is short for Sodium Tripolyphosphate. Once place I know it can be ordered from is The Chemistry Store. See link below.

http://www.chemistrystore.com/cart.cgi?group=88696&child=88793

 

[retropia]

John, you may have missed the threads about phosphates being removed from dishwasher detergents. Below I've linked to a current discussion in the Super forum.

STPP is the acronym for Sodium TriPolyPhosphate. You can purchase it online at The Chemistry Store.

-Doug

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?29777_130

 

[parunner58]

We get the same spots, I have tried washing the silverware first and they still get the brown spots. I have just resigned to SOSing them every few weeks when I get tired of seeing the spots. I may try getting some STPP and trying that. This is a picture of the spots we get. For us it happens only on the knives.

 

[gansky1]

Are there any rusty spots on the racks or in the machine? Sometimes that may cause a reaction with water and the metal of the flatware and leave these brown spots. I was getting these for a while in my old Asko machine and didn't realize that the racks were pretty rough in a couple of spots as the dark grey nylon and stainless tank made the rusty areas nearly invisible. My machine was still under a five-year warranty so the racks were replaced and the spots were gone.

There seem to be many, many different theories as to why this is happening. I found this interesting thread at finishing.com that explains some of how flatware is made, metal content, etc. One poster said on the first page that Bosch told her it could be the problem I had with the Asko & metal reactions in the machine. Not sure I'm buying the detergent-blame going on as much as the metallurgical explanations, but it's good reading nonetheless.

http://www.finishing.com/184/86.shtml

 

[alr2903]

When we had a kitchenaid in our former house this brown spotting occured. Now a cheap Tappan it never happens. Apart from the KA dropping the detergent on the silverware basket. The cheap Tappan with a silver basket on the side away from the dispenser it never happens. I would imagine your tap water may play a part in this too. We have never had a water softner. arthur

 

[joe_in_philly]

I suspect it may have something to do with the flatware. I use a set of Henckels 18/10 mirror finish stainless that I use daily that doesn't get spots, but a less expensive, more matte finish set that does seem prone to those spots. I also have some small, inexpensive butter spreaders and knives I got at IKEA that do have a more mirror finish, but get spots on occasion.

 

[spiceman1957]

Air2903

I have a Whirlpool with the silver ware basket in the door. When I last emptied the dishwasher and I was complaining about the "spots", my partner suggested the same thing you just mentioned in your posting that we move the basket to the inside. Now let see if this works. Will give you updates lol.
John

 

[mark_wpduet]

I have ALWAYS wondered what this was! Now I know

 

[passatdoc]

agree w/ joe in philly

Current flatware is Oneida 18/8 or 18/10 (don't remember) and no spots. Previous flatware was an inexpensive dept store set and probably neither 18/8 nor 18/10. Never get spots with the Oneida, but did with the old stuff.

The Oneida set was bought in 20-piece sets at a dept store, I purchased three sets eventually so have service for 12. Pattern is called "Dune"---I think you can still buy open stock replacements but not sure if they still sell it en masse. This was not the higher end Oneida that is sold by the place setting, it was more MOL. After I had completed my set, eventually Costco offered a 12 place set of Dune plus serving pieces for about $80-100 (the dept store price was like $50 for 20 pieces, hence $150 for 12 places). I think I got it in stages by waiting for it to go on sale for $40/box, but of course Costco's price for a large set can't be beat. The Dune set has been my everyday service for roughly fifteen years and still looks very nice.

I use Finish Powerball tabs plus Jet Dry liquid.

"Dune" is still mass-produced in a satin finish as shown below. I have the shiny finish which was what they sold in the 1990s. The shiny finish is available only as open stock, i.e. as replacements. Still usually sold in 20 piece sets. Now that this kind of merchandise has filtered down to retailers like WalMart, one can find it for $35-40 per 20-piece set (service for four). [this post was last edited: 8/14/2010-12:35]

 

[dogboy44]

omg yes we have had this too

I have to say, I have an old vegetable peeler that used to go in every load almost, and now that I wash it by hand we do not have spots on the flatware

 

[passatdoc]

bon ami and repairing a DW rack

Bon ami did a good job of cleaning off the spots on the old/inexpensive flatware, but what a chore! And what a hassle to have to hand wash an inexpensive, "every day" set. I gave the inexpensive set to a charity rummage sale and the 18/8 Oneida Dune is the everyday set. Hopefully the person who bought the set will wash by hand and not by DW.

The "nice" set is a higher end Oneida 18/10 set (the kind you have to buy by the place setting, five pieces) and it too washes up nicely in the dishwasher. Odd that I had to go "upscale" in order to find pieces that were dishwasher safe.

I do have one broken off tine on my Bosch DW's lower rack, but I keep it covered/sealed with a repair cap. My repair kit is by Electrolux and includes tine end caps and a bottle of repair fluid for fixing areas where the enamel wore/chipped off, which can't be covered with a tine end cap. I have never used the repair fluid because the only defect is one broken tine end; I use only the caps.

 

[spiceman1957]

Air2903

You suggestions on moving the silverware basket worked!! I emptied the dishwasher this morning and found no brown spots on the flatware. I'm also going to order the STPP as well.
John