With proper care, our KNORK sets are designed to last for many years. Stainless steel is a hearty material that resists rust much better than other flatware mediums due to the presence of chromium, leading it to become the predominant manufacturing material used in flatware production. Its name means that it “stains less”, but stainless steel is not a 100% infallible material. Stainless steel does not readily corrode, rust or stain with water as ordinary steel does. However, it is not fully stain-proof in low-oxygen, high-salinity, or poor air-circulation environments.
As far as care, we do recommend using a non-citrus scented liquid or gel detergent if possible (2 in 1 packs that are part powder/part gel seem to work well also), and avoiding compacted tablets (an example of this is the white and blue tablets with the red “power” balls in the middle). These kinds of detergents tend to be harder for machines to dissolve, and the residual granules can damage the top coat of the stainless steel, which could cause rusting or spotting to occur.
Avoiding soaking pieces for any extended period of time is also important: stainless steel hates damp and dark environments, so a wet sink is a perfect place for rust/corrosion to thrive. Rinse pieces of any acidic residue or food (mayo, ketchup, butter, mustard, sour cream, etc.) until you can fully wash and put away, and make sure pieces are clean and dry before going in your drawer, making sure there is no pooled water anywhere on the surface. Using a high heat drying cycle in your machine will ensure that pieces are not sitting with water spots on them in a rust-friendly environment after a completed wash cycle.