Cutlery Cleaning & Storage

Every kitchen or dining room is incomplete without a quality cutlery set and regardless of the age, style or shape, all cutlery requires care and attention.

Most cutlery pieces today are crafted using stainless steel, a durable and resilient material available in a variety of grades that determine its quality. As well as this, plated cutlery is available in styles such as gold, silver and even copper while antique cutlery is historically made using silver.

While stainless steel cutlery makes up most of the cutlery available today, it's recommended to double-check what style you are using as the processes for cleaning and storage may be different.

• If you’re washing stainless steel by hand, make sure to use a soft, non-abrasive cloth to get rid of all food particles. A scourer pad will scratch the surface of your cutlery pieces, which will take the perfect shine away.
• Try not to soak your cutlery in water for too long, as harsh detergents or acid that is found in some foods may damage the pieces.
  Dry immediately after washing to avoid water stain marks. To polish, use a lint-free cloth and gently buff to redeem the shine.
• Make sure not to wash your stainless steel cutlery with inferior metals such as pizza cutters.

• Stainless steel and silver cutlery are fine to put in the dishwasher, however, it’s best to rinse leftover food from the cutlery as this can tarnish the surface.
• Make sure your dishwasher filters are clean prior to use.
• Avoid washing cutlery in the dishwasher alongside non-stainless steel metals, as this can cause rust spots.
• Place spoon and fork head upwards in the dishwasher so they can be washed properly. Place knives blades down for safety reasons.
• Always remove and hand dry your cutlery straight after the cycle has finished, this prevents the cutlery from being left in damp conditions and water staining.

When considering the flow of a kitchen, implementing 'zones' or specific stations for food prep and serving can help you arrange where to place your cutlery. Just like a professional kitchen, the placement of tools and utensils is key in creating a balanced and effective kitchen space.

The average cutlery drawer typically contains more than just spoons, knives and forks and can sometimes but a hassle to find the pieces you need. Consider utilising a cutlery tray or organiser that fits well within a drawer space and separates individual cutlery pieces. Using cutlery from the same set is also beneficial as mixing plated and non plated cutlery pieces for example can lead to increased wear and dulling.

While most kitchens will have a drawer unit to store cutlery pieces, others may have to get creative with the space available. Kitchen drawer organisers and dividers make efficient use of the space within deeper kitchen drawers and a cutlery tray can easily display all the kitchen equipment you need.

If drawer and cupboard space is limited you may want to consider a cutlery basket or bucket which are designed with kitchen aesthetics in mind and allow easy access to everyday use cutlery pieces. An even more creative cutlery storage idea could be to re-utilise old Kilner jars or wooden compartment displays that can individually hold spoons, knives, forks and more.

One option for making cutlery work for your home and dining room design might be to display cutlery. Whether you have a vintage cutlery set or a more modern design, utilising a cutlery display box could add that extra fine dining flare to your home dining and entertaining events. Many larger cutlery sets come complete with beautiful wooden canteens that can double up as a display case as well as a reliable storage option.