How to Care for Christofle Silver-Plated Cutlery

A word on Christofle silver plate

Founded in Paris in 1830, Christofle perfected the art of electroplating fine silver over a base metal, giving the weight, lustre and longevity of solid silver at a more forgiving price. The plating is generous and, with sensible care, remarkably durable. What silver plate shares with solid silver is a tendency to tarnish: exposure to air, humidity and certain foods slowly dulls the surface. Tarnish is not damage — it is a thin layer that lifts away easily once you know how.

Everyday care

One habit matters most, whichever way you wash: dry silver thoroughly and at once. Beyond that:

• Rinse pieces soon after use — especially after contact with salt, eggs, vinegar, citrus, mustard or shellfish, all of which accelerate tarnishing.
• Wash in warm water with a mild, phosphate-free washing-up liquid and a soft sponge.
• Dry immediately and thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth. Water left to evaporate on the surface is the commonest cause of spotting.

Never leave silver to soak, and never let it drip-dry.

In the dishwasher, with a little care

Contrary to common belief, Christofle silver-plated cutlery is dishwasher-safe — provided you take a few sensible precautions:

• Choose a gentle, shorter programme at a moderate temperature.
• Use a mild detergent, free of lemon or citric-acid additives, which are harsh on silver.
• Never place silver in the same basket as stainless-steel items — direct contact between the two metals in water causes spotting and, over time, pitting.
• Remove the pieces and dry them promptly; do not leave them sitting in the damp machine.

For everyday ease the dishwasher is perfectly acceptable. For the brightest finish and the longest life, hand washing remains the gentlest option.

Removing tarnish: the Christofle care range

When silver dulls, reach for products formulated for it — not household abrasives, which scratch the plating. Christofle make four, each for a different moment:

• Silver Care Lotion — a gentle cleaning lotion for regular upkeep. Apply with a soft cloth, buff, rinse and dry.
• Silver Cleaner Cream — a richer cream for pieces that have begun to darken.
• Silver Care Flash — a rapid immersion cleaner that revives heavily tarnished cutlery in moments; ideal before a dinner when time is short.
• Silver Cleaning Gloves — cotton gloves impregnated with cleaning agent that polish silver gently as you handle it, and keep fingerprints off freshly cleaned pieces.

Whichever you use, work along the length of each piece, rinse in clean water and dry immediately.

Storing silver so it stays bright

Tarnish is slowed by keeping air and moisture away.

• Store in a dry place, ideally in a lined canteen or the original roll or pouch. The Marly flatware set, for instance, comes in a fitted chest that does much of this work for you.
• An anti-tarnish strip — or a simple piece of chalk — tucked into the drawer absorbs the sulphur compounds that cause tarnishing.
• Avoid wrapping silver in cling film, rubber bands or newspaper; all of them corrode plating.
• For pieces used daily, the Mood egg keeps a service to hand and enclosed between meals.

A few things never to do

• Never clean silver with steel wool or abrasive scouring powders.
• Never wash silver alongside stainless steel in the dishwasher — the two metals react and spot.
• Never leave silver in contact with salt, egg or acidic food overnight.
• Never store it damp, or in an unlined wooden drawer — the wood’s acids attack the surface.
• Never rub away a maker’s mark when polishing; work gently around it.

Frequently asked questions

Can Christofle silver-plated cutlery go in the dishwasher?
Yes. Christofle silver plate is dishwasher-safe when you take a few precautions: a gentle programme, a mild detergent without lemon or citric additives, and never the same basket as stainless-steel items, as contact between the two metals in water causes spotting. Remove and dry the pieces promptly. Hand washing is still the gentlest option, but the dishwasher is perfectly fine.

How often should I polish it?
Only when it dulls. Everyday pieces that are washed and dried properly need polishing a few times a year; pieces kept in storage, less often still.

Does the silver plating wear off over time?
Christofle’s plating is thick and, with hand washing and gentle care, lasts for decades. Christofle also offer a re-silvering service for treasured pieces that have seen many years of use.

Is tarnish permanent?
No — tarnish is a surface layer that lifts away with the right cleaner. Pitting — caused by prolonged contact with salt, or with stainless steel in the dishwasher — is not reversible, which is exactly why the precautions above matter.