How is it possible that sometimes the washing results are flawless and other times the stainless steel dishes that have been washed so many times get streaks or even rust?
Washing in the dishwasher has many advantages
A dishwasher is a great helper in the kitchen. It saves a lot of time, manual work and also water. It is believed that mainly thanks to the water recycling that the dishwasher is capable of, it can save up to 75% of water compared to manual washing. It is certainly energy-intensive, but so is heating water for washing dishes. So it doesn’t do badly in terms of energy consumption either.
Although not absolutely necessary, members of larger and smaller families will soon get used to the comfort. Unfortunately, it is not suitable for washing all dishes. However, there will be no talk of burnt pots or painted porcelain. Do not put stainless steel dishes in the dishwasher either. But why?
How can a dishwasher harm stainless steel cookware?
Do you regularly wash stainless steel in the dishwasher and do not observe any problems? Sometimes the damage to the protective layer of stainless steel can become apparent later, or you are simply lucky and you use just the kind of detergents that do not cause even the slightest damage to the top layer of stainless steel dishes.
The chemicals in washing tablets, but also in washing powder, are not all the same. However, many often contain phosphates, chlorides and bleaches, which can gradually damage the stainless steel surface, especially during frequent washing in the dishwasher. Acids are particularly problematic. However, problems can also be caused by the use of hard water, which is difficult to avoid.
Another chemical reaction can also occur if you wash aluminum or cast iron and stainless steel dishes in the dishwasher. However, these cast iron and aluminum containers, pans and pots also do not belong in the dishwasher. Above all, the aluminum visibly tarnishes and does not have such a nice shiny color.
The damage can also be mechanical
Another problem can also be that stainless steel tends to be dull shiny or visibly ground in one direction. Although the special treatment is very nice, the surface is easily scratched. If the dishes in the dishwasher move slightly due to the pressure of the water, there may be unsightly scratches that you will not be able to get rid of.
In some cases, corrosion will also appear on stainless steel, but it depends very much on the quality of the material. And as already mentioned, there are also differences in the brand and chemical composition of a specific detergent. If you are not sure, you can also find a label on each dish that will tell you whether it is recommended to wash that item in the dishwasher. Although caution is in order, if washing in the dishwasher is recommended by the manufacturer, then the dishes should also withstand the mentioned possible aggressive chemical substances in washing preparations.
Sources: madeincookware.com, reliant.co.uk
