Best Way To Removing Rust Marks from Cutlery

There’s nothing worse than pulling cutlery out of the drawer and seeing the tragic signs of rust.

It’s just a part of life but it’s such a hassle, especially if you’ve been storing special cutlery (like wedding gifts) and missed the warning signs, or you’ve spent big on an expensive stainless steel set that was supposed to last and you don’t want to splash out again.

The good news is that rust is not the end of the line for your household cutlery. There are ways you can deal with it. But before we look at that, let’s take a moment to learn more about rust on cutlery.

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What causes rust spots on kitchen cutlery?

There are a few things that cause rust spots on cutlery, and it pays to know what they are so you can avoid them. The two main things that cause rust are washing cutlery in the dishwasher and leaving it in the sink for long periods of time.

Not all cutlery can be washed in the dishwasher, and even items that claim to be dishwasher friendly still need to be properly rinsed before being put in the machine. Along with that, it’s worth washing your cutlery as soon as you’ve used it, instead of leaving it in the dishwasher. A rinse and a wipe is all that’s required, before setting it to try in a drainer. Just like that you can avoid rust.

How does rust appear on cutlery?

From the scientific point of view rust is Iron Oxide, a compound which forms when any metallic substance that contains iron and steel comes in contact with water or vapor from the atmosphere. This reaction leads the formation of a brown substance, which we call rust. Rust can appear when cutlery isn’t dried properly, or is washed in a way that isn’t suited to the piece (like the dishwasher). It can also form, and indeed is more likely to form, on items of cutlery that have scratches. If you have older cutlery, regular rust spot checks should stop it from getting too established.