Tinfoil in a dishwasher sounds like a terrible band name
Yet it’s not, it’s just the latest hack doing the rounds on TikTok and in the run-up to Christmas, it might give your silverware a new lease of life.
As far as all these mad-looking hacks go, this one is relatively tame and easy to do, all that’s needed is a balled-up piece of foil and a bit of patience.
Pop it in during your dishwasher’s cycle and apparently your cutlery will come out sparkling with none of those annoying watermarks dulling its shine.
According to Dmitry Letsman, Dishwasher Category Manager at appliance brand Hotpoint, the hack does work and in fact science is on your side if you give it a go.
@stephanieboothhome The viral aluminum foil in the dishwasher hack is a BAD idea!!! #cleantok #tiktokmademedoit #cleaninghacks #badhacks #needtoknow ♬ original sound – Stephanie Booth Home
“The aluminium in the foil oxidises the detergent, which helps remove even the toughest stains,” he explained to the Express.
“However, this will not work on all cutlery – it has to be silverware, as this is typically made from high-quality materials, such as sterling silver or silver-plated alloys which naturally add shine and lustre.
“Other cutlery, made from stainless steel and synthetic polymers don’t have the same reflective properties.”
Yet there is one catch to putting tinfoil in the dishwasher and it’s nothing to do with your knives and forks and is more about the appliance itself.
Appliance experts at RGB Direct told The Mirror, “The hack itself has seen some great successes and has proven to be a great one as the foil will be tarnished through the rinse cycle and come out brown, this means that the tarnish on the silverware will be lifted.
“However, by adding it to your dishwasher it can actually cause more harm than good by scratching the interior particularly if the foil is scrunched up or folded in a way that creates sharp edges.
“It can also clog the drainage system if the foil rips apart potentially damaging the dishwasher’s pump or if the foil comes into contact with the heating element or other electrical components of your dishwasher, it can cause a short circuit or other electrical damage.”
So if you want to avoid an exact bill for getting your dishwasher fixed before Christmas, just be aware!
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