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Black Manufacture cutlery set with a fabric napkin and decorative berries on a textured grey surface.

Polishing cutlery

Content

  • The right care for your cutlery
  • Polishing preparation
  • Care tips for your cutlery
  • How to make your cutlery shine

At a glance

  • Only clean suitable cutlery in the dishwasher

  • Polish delicate silver cutlery with special silver polish and a polishing cloth

  • Always use polish in low concentrations

  • Microfibre cloths are practical for cleaning stainless steel cutlery

  • Remove flash rust using household products such as toothpaste or a ceramic hob cleaner

The right care for your cutlery

There are many different types of cutlery. Depending on the material from which knives, forks, and other utensils are made and how they are alloyed, different things are important for cleaning and care. Be sure to check whether your cutlery is dishwasher safe and follow the manufacturer's instructions to keep it looking beautiful for a long time to come.
Cleaning stainless steel cutlery is very straightforward and it can usually be washed in the dishwasher. Dry it thoroughly afterwards to prevent limescale stains. If you’re wondering how to clean silver cutlery, bear in mind that it should be cleaned separately from stainless steel utensils to avoid discolouration. Do not clean gold-plated cutlery, such as the MetroChic collection, in the dishwasher as this could damage the gold alloy. Use a soft cloth instead.
We have put together a guide to help you polish your cutlery.

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Cleaning stainless steel cutlery gently

Various simple household products can be used to polish stainless steel cutlery. Bicarbonate of soda helps to restore the shine of tarnished stainless steel cutlery. You can also buy special stainless steel cleaners and rinse aids to polish stainless steel cutlery.
After cleaning your cutlery, dampen it slightly in warm water, then apply some cleaning product to a soft cloth and rub it gently over the cutlery. Always work lengthways. After polishing, remove any remaining residue with warm water and dry the item thoroughly before putting it away.

Stylish table decoration with Mademoiselle cutlery on a blue linen napkin and a bouquet of flowers.

Polishing silver cutlery

If you’re wondering how to make cutlery shine again, consider using a suitable silver polish and a cutlery polishing cloth. The polishing cloth should be very soft to make sure it does not damage the delicate material. Place a small amount of silver polish onto the cloth and polish the item using gentle pressure. Afterwards, rinse the cutlery item briefly in warm water and dry it thoroughly.

Do you know how to prevent discolouration on silver cutlery? Top tip: Use your cutlery frequently as this will prevent unsightly tarnishing.

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Caring for chrome cutlery

For polishing cutlery made of chrome, brass, or copper, you can use special polishing agents, just like with silver cutlery. Vinegar can also help with these materials. Mix vinegar with plenty of water in a spray bottle and spray the individual cutlery pieces. Then take a soft cloth and gently rub in the homemade polish. Once the cutlery shines again, rinse it under running water. To counteract any vinegar smell, you can use a bit of dish soap. As always: dry thoroughly!

Polishing preparation

The right accessories are vital to restore your cutlery’s shine. You will need different ones depending on whether you are cleaning stainless steel cutlery from the Villeroy & Boch Daily Line or silver cutlery from the La Classica series. We’ll explain all.

Choosing the right polishing cloth

Different cloths can be used to polish your cutlery. A microfibre cloth or a soft cotton cloth is usually sufficient for cleaning stainless steel. More delicate materials, meanwhile, respond best to gentle treatment. If you’re wondering how to clean silver-plated cutlery, then you’ll find that a soft woven cotton cloth with no abrasive fibres is ideal. A very soft cloth will soon make your Neufaden-Merlemont cutlery set look just as good as new.
Always ensure that you polish in a lengthwise direction to achieve the best possible shine. The cloth should be smooth and free of unnecessary folds. Use a clean cloth for polishing each time and wash it following the care instructions. Otherwise, the detergent could roughen the fibres or react with the cutlery material.

Polishing product amounts and concentrations

There are numerous polishes and pastes available on the market that are suitable for cutlery and are designed to improve the polishing result. You can also use household products such as vinegar or bicarbonate of soda to polish your cutlery and help restore its shine. When choosing a polish, pay attention to the material. Stainless steel cutlery, such as the Villeroy & Boch Mademoiselle collection, is relatively resistant and can be treated with most polishing products. In contrast, silver cutlery or stainless steel cutlery with gold or silver plating is more delicate and should always be cleaned with a special polish.
Whatever product you choose, use the smallest possible quantity. Dilute vinegar with water and ideally spray it onto the cutlery. Put some bicarbonate of soda on a soft, damp cloth and then rub it in slowly. Professional polishes should also be applied to cutlery in the lowest possible quantities and concentrations in order to avoid damage.

Pre-wetting the cutlery

Moisture is a key component in cutlery care. While you should always dry cutlery thoroughly after washing, a little moisture is a definite advantage when it comes to polishing. Depending on which polish or household product you are using, ensure the cutlery is slightly damp beforehand, to allow the product to take full effect.

If you are using a product that is applied with a sponge or a cloth, it can be useful to wet your sponge or cloth first. Bicarbonate of soda, for instance, is a useful household product that can also be used for polishing, but it needs to be applied with a damp cloth to be effective. N.B.: this only applies for robust stainless steel. Silver cutlery is more delicate and should be treated with caution!

Factors influencing the polishing result

There are various factors that influence how cutlery looks after polishing. In addition to the points mentioned above that you can consider, there are other factors that affect the outcome. These include particularly the temperature of the cutlery and the ambient temperature. Cutlery fresh from the dishwasher is often still warm and reacts differently to polishing than cold cutlery. However, there is no one-size-fits-all rule that applies to all types of cutlery. Essentially, you just need to experiment to determine the conditions that yield the best polish when cleaning cutlery.

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Elegant table decoration with modern Piemont cutlery and decorative greenery on a neutral tablecloth.
Shiny La Classica cutlery and a decorative flower on a white plate against a dark background.



Care tips for your cutlery

As a general rule, only cutlery specifically described as dishwasher-safe should be cleaned in the dishwasher. Most of the cutlery in the Villeroy & Boch ranges can be cleaned safely in the dishwasher. However, certain products are best cleaned by hand.
If your cutlery is safe to wash in the dishwasher, make sure you don’t overfill the cutlery basket as this could cause the utensils to scratch each other. Clean your cutlery first, to remove any acids by rinsing it in water. Place all utensils in the cutlery basket with the handles pointing downwards. Descale your dishwasher regularly to prevent stains and discolouration. Dry cutlery items immediately after the wash cycle has finished, to avoid limescale stains.

How to make cutlery shine - and stay that way!

Not everyone has a cutlery polishing machine at home, so it’s even more important to know how to polish your cutlery by hand to maintain its shine. It's not just classic stainless steel cutlery such as the Louis collection that benefits from regular polishing. A little care and attention will pay dividends too for elegant high-quality cutlery with gold or silver plating.

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