Skip to main content
BOSCH logoHome Appliances

Rust spots on cutlery from dishwasher

Metals can begin to rust when they come into contact with oxygen or water. This is a natural chemical reaction and does not mean that your appliance is faulty. Salty and acidic water can further speed up the corrosion process, causing your cutlery to rust quicker. Unfortunately, rust spots on cutlery can be caused from a number of factors and it can be difficult to diagnose what the source of the problem is exactly. To reduce the risk of rust spots, we recommend following the advice given below.

Avoid washing cutlery with other rusting items

If you put rusting items in the same wash as your cutlery, the cutlery will also begin to rust. To avoid damage - check if any items are showing signs of rusting and refrain from adding them to the same wash as your shiny cutlery. Look out especially for damaged pan handles, utensil basket, etc.

If your utensils basket is damaged, you can purchase a new one below.

Utensils baskets and holders
Full open dishwasher.

Run a wash cycle as soon as you can

If the rinsing water has a very high salt content, the corrosion process is also faster. When topping up your dishwasher salt, be sure to remove any spilled salt and fasten the salt dispenser lock properly. We recommend rinsing your cutlery as soon as possible after having food as the acid and salt present in many dishes can increase corrosion.

A close-up of the interior of a dishwasher shows a plastic cup filled with ice cubes placed on the bottom rack near the spray arm.

Use rust resistant cutlery

If you use cutlery which is not sufficiently rust-resistant, over time, it will begin to rust. Knife blades are more severely affected than spoons, forks and pan handles. We recommend using stainless steel cutlery, which is more durable thanks to the added elements.

Good to know

  • White starch deposits: make sure the dishwasher is loaded properly and the spray arms are not blocked.
  • Corrosion: ensure acidic or salt food residues are rinsed off, or use a pre-rinse cycle. Stainless steel is less prone to corrosion.
  • Discolouration: avoid stainless steel and silver cutlery touching to prevent reactions with each other.
Open dishwasher with wine glasses inside.
How to clean glass in the dishwasherCleaning delicate items such as a wine glass, or a glass tray in the dishwasher requires some special treatment. Our useful guide will take you through our top tips and tricks.Discover more
Repair Service
Need to book a repair? Arrange for an engineer.
Repair Service
User Manuals
Find your user manual for product support.
User Manuals
Contact Us
Contact us for further support and help.
Contact Us
Spare Parts
Search our store for original spare parts.
Shop parts
Rust spots on cutlery from dishwasher | Bosch UK