Why does my cutlery come out looking rusty from the dishwasher?

[RoundTheBend]

I know that some of you will know!!! I am fed up having to re-wash by hand some of the cutlery that comes out of the dishwasher with a coating of brown rust looking substance on it. Why is this?

Are you sure it is stainless steel/aluminium?

Not sure at all. I think the majority of it is stainless steel. Does that mean that mixing two different metals together would cause a reaction?

I'm no expert but it sounds to me as though the composition of the cutlery is reacting with the detergents used in dishwashers.
A non-metal example is melamine discolouring over time.

It could be the quality of the metal. I have some expensive stainless steel cutlery which always comes out gleaming and some cheap stuff that comes out with rust-coloured spots. i'd invest in some new cutlery if it's bothering you.

Mine comes out looking rusty too... but I know its because it is rusty....I think dishwashering over and over eventually takes off the coating and the rusty bits bleed through. I think I've kept mine for too long... the handles fall off occasionally too!

Dishwasher water has a lot of salt in. Of course it's going to send metal stuff rusty after a while. That's why the instruction book always suggests you remove cutlery straight away and dry with a cloth.

I have a drawer full of rusty cutlery due to ingoring above instructions

What, even posh stainless steel themoon? I assumed that was rust-proof regardless!

I think it is only ok if you whip it out of the machine quick at the end and polish it dry.

There's too much salt in your machine. Don't add salt to your machine if you use those 4-in-1 tablets. They already contain salt.

Put all your knives in a separate bit of the cutlery holder. Knives apparently have a different compostion which can cause rust.

Have a look here

www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=231

That explains why my expensive cutlery is fine. Time to throw out the cheap stuff.

Thank you ladies. Time to stop mixing the cutlery by the sounds of it. We have so much every day cutlery that I think I need to sort through it all and throw out what is not needed anymore.