Silver’s signature look comes from the contrast between its brilliant finish and its dark patina. Plenty of metals shine. But silver’s patina adds depth. “It shows the detail and craftsmanship of the piece,” Michael explains in our guide to cleaning silver.
Compared with stainless steel, silver is delicate and prone to chemical reactions. That’s also the secret behind its rich appearance: That characteristic patina simply isn’t possible with stainless steel.
But silver’s sensitive nature also makes it more susceptible to damage. It naturally turns yellow with tarnish just from sitting in storage. Since it’s relatively pliable, it’s also more prone to scratches and scuffs.
Dishwashers, on the other hand, are built for more durable, chemically inert types of dishware, such as glass, ceramic, and stainless steel. (This is basically written into law: The federal energy-efficiency test, required by the Department of Energy, uses dishes made exclusively from those three materials—not silver.)
In a harsh environment like a dishwasher, where conditions are hot and wet and full of caustic and abrasive cleaners, silver is at a relatively high risk for corroding, losing its finish, and picking up other blemishes.
