why is my cutlery going rusty in the dishwasher?

[ThatVikRinA22]

noticed it a few weeks ago - its not done it before and we have had the dishwasher 5 years, though i think it is on its way out....

but lately is leaving a horrible salty taste on everything washed in it and its making the cutlery go rusty.

ive run it on a hot wash with some dishwasher cleaner - it made no difference.
i always use salt and rinse aid (unless they run out and i cant refill for a day or two)

whats up with it? its doing my head in - ive got to wash everything again and ive rusty knives and forks!

You should never put knives in the dishwasher. They have to use softer steel so that it can be shapened so it's more susceptible to rusting. I don't know why your forks are rusting too though.

I have never used salt in my dishwasher but we're in a soft water area. Assume you have hard water? Maybe if everything's salty your salt dispenser is on the blink?

Have you tried claning the filter? Or just used dishwasher cleaner?

Mine started doing this too a few months ago. Actually come to think of it - it was just the knives that had the problem. I think it is the salt not being washed off properly. We have given up doing cutlery in the dishwasher and now wash them by hand.

Actually we are teaching the kids new life skills - washing and wiping up

yeah tried all that beanbags - cleaned the filter, run it with dishwasher cleaner through....

made no difference. i think its on its way out anyway but i cant afford to replace it yet!

the water softener in a dishwasher should not release any salt into the water. Either it is faulty or the lid is loose. The salt is only used to regenerate the softener resin, and is rinsed out before the machine starts washing.

Sometimes the lid does not screw down correctly if there are granules in the thread or under the cap.

checked that too piglet....i think its just buggered!

I have a brand new dishwasher, and my best chopping knife, on first wash, came out with rust marks.......

Yuk!

chefs' knives in particular are made of a hard steel which is less resistant than most kitchenware, and does seem to get rust spots. The makers say take it out as soon as the wash has finished, I find a rub with a green nylon scourer will take off any marks.

I read somewhere that lemon dishwasher detergent can cause rust. Since we stopped using it we've not had an issue with rusty cutlery.

We had exact same issue. We had the dishwasher about three years, its a really good one and its always been great. Then 3 years in, decided to put salt in it (we live in a very, very soft water area). Then after that - rust on metal and oddly enough slight orange spots on the base of cups (the very outer edge of the base).

I think I did something wrong when filling the washer with salt (I read in the manual that you had to put water in it first before salt???) Also I didn't know how much salt was needed so dumped the whole bottle in, needless to say some spilled over, but rinsed away - confused?

This was a while back, and we have changed cutlery since, however its annoying that something I did different caused the problem.

poster Wingdingdong, interesting about the lemon detergent. As this is what we always usually use as the best price. Will have to try non lemon.

:)

Don't think this will help if it's only just started but I do know that if Stainless Steel touches anything that isn't stainless steel in the dishwasher it will leave what looks like rust marks.

They can be scrubbed off easily enough but it's why you often get rust spots on carving knives etc.

Are you using lemon dishwasher tablets, I was told they cause rust

Sorry didn't see wings post.

thanks - yes i do usually use lemon tablets but weirdly this has only just started happening even though ive used them for ages.

its not just knifes, its everthing, even the handles of my forks and spoons....

ill try a different type of tablet and see what happens.

Just thinking on...

Would using a lemon dishwasher freshener cause problems with rust?

Its one of those types that hang from the top rack.

Just wondered if anyone would know, considering a few have mentioned regarding lemon detergent?

Thanks :)

I have had this same issue with some of my older cutlery, I just used one of the spontex non-scratch sponge pads and some hot/warm soapy water and scrubbed it nicely. It gave a nice clean finish and removed most of the marks if not all.

My new cutlery hopefully wont have this issue straight away.