My Everyday Silverware

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I shocked a lot of people when I mentioned I used my sterling silver flatware every day. But that wasn’t the most shocking part.

A few years ago I  shared this photo of my sterling silver flatware on my blog.  I casually mentioned how often I use my sterling silver flatware, along with my silverplate flatware. Every single day. And yet, I shocked a lot of people when I shared how I clean it.

Sterlng Silver Flatware
Favorite Finds
Sterling Silver Flatware Drawer

This is my silverware drawer. It has a combination of sterling silver and silverplate.

This drawer holds my sterling silver (Wallace Rose Point) and my Vintage silver plate (Rogers Bros. Vintage). It also has some of my mom’s sterling silver flatware. If any of you recognize the silver pattern, please let me know. I love all three of these patterns so much that I cannot imagine only using them for special occasions. That is why I use them every day.

sterling silver patterns

And the most shocking part?

I put the sterling silver flatware in the dishwasher. All of the time.

I know, right now some of you are UNfollowing me.

But wait!  Read a bit more.

My grandmother would be shocked and for sure take back all of the silver I own. Some may call me foolish but I think it’s too pretty not to enjoy all of the time.

And even though I put it in the dishwasher, it still looks as good as the day I got it.

Of course, this does not mean that I can guarantee the dishwasher won’t harm your silver. But for me, after thirty years, my silver still looks perfect.

sterling silver flatware

For the engagement party, we hosted almost two years ago summer, I had enough silver and silverplate flatware to serve 65 people. 

(Every time I share this photo someone comments that the silver isn’t aligned. We were so rushed that my boys set the table for me. So I honestly didn’t even notice or even care! I was just thankful for the help!)

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Mixing Flatware

I love nice flatware. I also combine all of the patterns I own when I set a table. I never even try to make it match! 

If you look closely at the table below, you can see none of the silverware matches!

A fall table set in the dining room with pink and copper accents.

To be honest, when I reach into the silver drawer, I just grab the flatware. I don’t ever even think to try to match it.

However, sometimes it accidentally matches. 

Sterling Silver on Thanksgiving

And yes, I even use my sterling silver at breakfast and in my coffee every morning.

sterling silver at breakfast

Sterling Silver in the Dishwasher?

Some may call me foolish but I think sterling silver is too pretty not to enjoy all of the time.

And even though I put it in the dishwasher, it still looks as good as the day I got it.

Of course, this does not mean that I can guarantee the dishwasher won’t harm your silver. But for me, after many years, it still looks perfect.

Sterling Silver in the Dishwasher

My friends at Today.com said, “Surprisingly, silver and silver-plated flatware can be washed in the dishwasher, with a few caveats. Make sure to use a detergent that does NOT contain lemon or other citric acids, or it could damage the metal.”

A summer table set with off white dishes, amber and clear glassware, and fresh pink and white flowers in an oval ceramic vase.

Use Your Sterling Silver

Fall Table Decor Ideas for Your Dining Room

The most important message you should take from this blog post is that you should take your silver out of the lined wooden chest and use it! You can still hand wash it.

But use it.

It’s too beautiful not to use it more often.

So what happened when I posted this idea last time?

Lots of people pulled out their silver and started using it again! I received so many comments. And that makes me very happy.

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140 Comments

  1. I love this and am now using mine more but I was always told be the experts not tom put hollow handle pieces such as knives because the heat would melt the glue that holds the handle to the blade causing them to come apart especially on vintage pieces. Has that been your experience? Thank you! Karen

  2. Which detergent for the dishwasher do u use? I love my set but never use it. I have been married 48 years and have used it only a couple times. . I will start using them if I know what u use. I will test on a piece or two.

  3. We use silver spoons everyday. We keep all our silver spoons in a copper bucket by the coffee pot for daily use. Our other silver flatware is stored for occasional use. We’re careful to place only silver flatware in the cubbies in the dishwasher because if we mix it up with the stainless it causes it to turn dark. We inherited a bucket full of silver spoons, some of it beautifully monogram, from my MIL when she passed. I had never even seen these spoons. We decided to use her pretty things everyday and enjoy them.about once a year or so I polish them with a silver polishing cloth from Amazon.

  4. Loved this article. Thanks for the tips and. Lovely! One question – where did you get the black and white plates? Love them!

  5. I love this post! Why, save your “good silver” for just the special occasions?! Life is a special occasion!
    I’m going to add a caveat to this, though. I always used my silver and washed it in the dishwasher until we moved to the country and now we are on well water. For some reason, my silver would get a little black dots when we washed it in the dishwasher. I’m not sure what made this difference. Now I have bought a really pretty set of stainless that we use every day.

  6. I was so glad to read this post. I don’t use mine every day but we entertain often and use a lot and definitely put it in the dishwasher. In fact, everything goes in the dishwasher, even the cut glass, and no harm done after decades! I love your blog, but especially your entertaining posts!

  7. Well….after 25 years of storing my sterling…it is now out in my silverware drawers and used daily!!! Recently I met a much older woman and being from the Deep South she asked me if I had china, crystal, silver….yes I do to all. Inherited from my precious mother in law…she asked do you use it? I told her not much…this was her reply…who are you saving it for ….Your husbands next wife???????? Lol!! Well, after 45 years I don’t know about a next wife, but who am I saving it for????? I smile each time I open the drawers….and so does my husband as it brings back precious memories….

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