Why is my stainless steel cutlery rusting? .jpg)
Your Villeroy & Boch cutlery is made from high-quality stainless steel. The rust spots you have noticed on your cutlery are known as "flash rust." This occurs when deposits form on the surface of your cutlery. Flash rust consists of tiny rust particles. Metal objects—such as non-stainless steel pots or cutlery pieces—release iron particles during the dishwasher cycle. These particles can then settle on your cutlery. Why does flash rust primarily form on my knives?
To ensure your knives cut optimally and remain sharp for a long time, they are manufactured using a special blade steel (13/0 stainless steel). This material is harder than the 18/10 stainless steel used for the rest of your cutlery and, consequently, attracts flash rust like a magnet.How can I prevent flash rust?
The source of flash rust lies in non-stainless steel items inside the dishwasher. You need to identify which specific object is causing the rust.
Typical sources include:
• Stainless steel pots and pans: The screws on their handles or lids are often not made of stainless steel.
• Bowls, kitchen knives with rivets, or kitchen utensils made of steel—such as cheese slicers or garlic presses.
• Damaged dishwasher baskets: These are typically steel baskets coated in plastic. Cracks in the coating expose the underlying metal structure of the basket or its rollers, leading to rust formation.
Have you found the culprit? Excellent! That item should no longer be placed in the dishwasher.
Tip: Still haven't found the culprit? Crumple a piece of aluminum foil into a ball roughly the size of a table tennis ball and place it in the cutlery basket of your dishwasher. The flash rust particles will then preferentially settle on the aluminum foil rather than on your cutlery. You should replace the foil ball once a month.