Dear Debora... your questions answered

Dear Debora,

Q I would like to know what you would recommend to clean my 50-yearold Viners Studio cutlery. Some of the teaspoons could definitely do with a lift!

– Rachel Harbord, Ross-on-Wye

A Stainless steel cutlery often becomes tarnished from excessive detergent and humidity in the dishwasher, so only use just enough dishwashing powder or liquid, and don’t leave them languishing in the machine after the cycle has finished. Salt and acid in food can leave marks on stainless steel, too, so wash them as soon as possible after eating. To bring your cutlery back to sparkling brilliance, dip a soft cloth in vinegar or lemon juice and rub gently to remove the black marks, before washing and buffing dry. Teaspoons – which often get dingy from the tannins in tea – can be revived by mixing one part white vinegar with eight parts warm water in a cup and putting the spoons in there to soak for 10 minutes, before washing them and buffing them dry.