Aluminum foil is a multipurpose tool that should be stocked in every kitchen. It can be used to preserve freshness, sharpen scissors, and make the perfect droid costume when your kid suddenly becomes obsessed with Star Wars. Aluminum foil can also help restore cutlery that looks past its prime. Here’s why you should toss a…
Add Shine To Utensils
TikTok creator @jojo.butterflylove brought this clever hack to our attention. Here’s how it works: Take a ball of tightly crumpled aluminum foil and stuff it into the dishwasher’s utensil basket. The foil ball should be nestled tightly against the cutlery, as it won’t have much effect if placed in a separate compartment or dislodged during the cleaning cycle. Then run the dishwasher as normal.
The science behind this hack involves oxidation and ion transfer. The heat and moisture in the dishwasher speed up the oxidation of the aluminum foil. Ions from the tarnished cutlery are drawn to the oxidizing foil, helping to remove discoloration and grime. Once the cycle is complete, you’ll notice that the wad of aluminum foil will look tarnished, and the silverware will be left shinier than before.
Does Aluminum Affect Glassware?
There’s a false claim making the rounds on the internet that aluminum foil can also help restore smudged and foggy glassware. It’s been debunked by chemists who say foil has little to no impact when it comes to cleaning glass and ceramic. Glass doesn’t react to oxidation in the same way as metal, so you’ll need to find a different hack for sparkling glassware.
Thankfully, we have an alternative solution for cleaning glassware, and all that’s needed is a little bit of distilled white vinegar. Vinegar is natural, nontoxic, and the perfect product for removing hard water or mineral buildup on glassware. Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl, place it on the same rack as your glassware, and run a hot cycle. The combination of heat, water, and vinegar will break down those pesky stains and leave each glass looking as clear as the day you bought it.
