Does Putting Aluminum Foil In Your Dishwasher Really Work?
This TikTok hack will change the way you do dishes.
TikTok is like a party you attend in your pajamas without getting off the couch. It's a place where you can learn dance moves, get beauty tips, or take cooking lessons. One of our favorite reasons to use the app? There are so many household hacks just waiting to be discovered.
If you've ever wondered how to make your silverware shinier, our latest obsession is for you. An Australian TikToker named Carolina Mccauley has gone viral with more than 330,000 views for an unexpected method for producing sparkly silverware. All you need is a dishwasher tablet and aluminum foil.
How To use Aluminum Foil In Your Dishwasher
In the caption for her viral video, Mccauley promises her dishwasher hack will leave your silverware sparkling. In the beginning, she flashes a dull-looking, scratched-up spoon in front of the camera. Next, she crumples a sheet of aluminum foil into the size and shape of a golf ball and places it in the dishwasher utensil basket next to her silverware. She runs her dishes through a dishwasher cycle as usual and removes the spoons. After washing, the spoons are extra shiny, and the scratches are no longer visible. In fact, the spoons look brand new. A virtual miracle has occurred!
Why Does It Work?
It turns out, it isn't quite a miracle, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work. Aluminum foil doesn't perform its magic on its own. According to Metro UK, the hack works because a chemical reaction occurs between the aluminum foil and the dishwasher tablet. Dishwasher tablets have similar properties to baking soda.
It's a proven combination we use to polish a large amount of silver at once: Set silver pieces into a container filled with warm water and lined with aluminum foil, sprinkle with baking soda, and let science get to work.
The combination of baking soda and aluminum foil lifts silver sulfide, otherwise known as tarnish. The process works even better when combined with warm water. This is why a ball of aluminum foil, coupled with a dishwasher tablet and hot water can leave your silverware sparkling and clean.
So, should you put a ball of aluminum foil in your dishwasher? Sure, why not? Especially if you like sparkling clean silverware. It's also important to note that since aluminum foil is reusable, it's a great way to recycle a piece you've already used. Dazzling silverware and a more sustainable kitchen? Count us in!
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