Latest news with #cutlery
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
You're using your dishwasher WRONG! Experts reveal the surprising items you should never put in there
At the end of a big meal there's nothing better than being able to put all the dirty cutlery in the dishwasher. At the press of a button, everything comes out clean and sparkling – even the grubbiest of dishes. But you've likely been using the appliance wrong, it turns out. Experts from Which? have compiled a list of unexpected items than you can and can't put in the dishwasher. They have revealed some common mistakes that could be ruining your items – and some surprising things you can safely put in. 'Before you start throwing in anything and everything, there are certain items where handwashing is always best,' Andrew Laughlin, principal researcher at the consumer brand said. His tips can help 'avoid having to replace items that aren't dishwasher safe'. So, are you guilty of the following errors? KITCHEN KNIVES 'While steel and ceramic knives are safe in the dishwasher and won't tarnish, the heat can make the blade more prone to dulling,' he said. 'It's better to wash them by hand to avoid having to sharpen them more often – and it will ensure they last longer and stay in great condition.' The same goes for blender blades, he explained, which can also dull over time and make your smoothies less smooth. WOODEN SPOONS AND CHOPPING BOARDS It may come as a surprise to some but anything wooden can't go in the dishwasher, Mr Laughlin said. 'Regardless of what type of wood it is, the high heat of a dishwasher will cause it to splinter and split, and any cracks are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria.' He said wooden items should be washed by hand but not submerged in water for too long. Lingering odours or stains could be treated by sprinkling some salt onto the board and scrubbing with half a lemon. NON–STICK ANYTHING AND SOME BAKING TRAYS Putting non–stick pans in the dishwasher can wear down the non–stick surface over time, he explained. Instead, these should be washed and dried by hand. While baking trays made of stainless steel or anodised aluminium are fine, cast iron or regular aluminium will need hand–washing. CRYSTAL OR MILK GLASSES Crystal can be expensive, and the best way to preserve it is by avoiding the dishwasher, Mr Laughlin said, adding: 'If you're adamant, choose a very mild detergent or look for one approved for crystal or cut–glass use. 'Place the crystal in the top rack of the dishwasher and make sure that the glasses do not touch one another. Then use a delicate cycle, which washes at a lower temperature to protect items.' Milk glass, meanwhile, can be chipped by knocking against other plates in the wash. Using the dishwasher might also cause it to turn slightly yellow over time. COPPER, ALUMINIUM OR CAST–IRON COOKWARE If you want to keep your prized copper cookware shiny, it's best to wash by hand as the harshness of the dishwasher can cause surfaces to dull. Meanwhile, detergent can cause aluminium to tarnish and turn black. 'If you're not sure, it's better to be safe than sorry, so keep your Le Creuset out of the dishwasher,' Mr Laughlin said. INSULATED COFFEE MUGS OR WATER BOTTLES The vacuum seal – a very important part of insulated items – could be damaged in the dishwasher. This could make insulation worse, preventing them from keeping your drinks hot or cool, or it could make them prone to leaking. 'While some coffee cups and travel mugs can be popped into a dishwasher on the top shelf, others need to be washed by hand, so always check the packaging or the manufacturer's website,' he said. Finally, while the actual pot of a pressure cooker can go in the dishwasher, a lid should always be hand washed. 'The high heat and water jets could damage the seal mechanism, making the actual pressure part of your pressure cooker obsolete,' he said. 'It could even make using your pressure cooker dangerous if the safety mechanisms are faulty.' Mr Laughlin also revealed a list of unusual items that can safely be put in the dishwasher, including make–up brushes, plastic hairbrushes, toothbrush holders and soap trays. The dishwasher can also come in handy for cleaning vacuum cleaner attachments and refrigerator shelves and drawers. Many baby items can also be cleaned in the dishwasher – and some models even come with high–heat programs specifically for this. 'These programs are often promoted as leaving dishes germ–free or sterilised,' he said. 'However, we wouldn't recommend that you rely on your dishwasher for sterilising items for very young babies. 'Use an alternative method instead.' Mr Laughlin has also previous shared advice on the correct way to stack a dishwasher. This includes never rinsing the plates and placing the dirtiest dishes on the bottom rack. Not overloading is also important, he said, to allow the water to circulate properly. Engineers devise VERY controversial method for loading the dishwasher Loading the dishwasher can be a sore subject. Everyone claims to have perfected their own foolproof 'technique', yet no two methods are the same. But in 2015, scientists ruffled a few feathers when they claimed to have devised the definitive way to organise a dishwasher's racks. The University of Birmingham engineers tracked water movement inside dishwashers before concluding that plates should be arranged in a circle. However, carbohydrate–stained dishes should be at the centre, they said, while protein–stained dishes should be around the edge. Carbohydrate–based stains need the full force of the water jets to get clean, while protein based foods need more contact with the chemical detergent. However, they warned that due to the way baskets are currently designed, this may prove to be difficult.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ladies of Llangollen's 'symbol of love' cutlery goes to auction
A cutlery set that belonged to the Ladies of Llangollen will go under the hammer on the open market for the first time. Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby spent 50 years together in their Plas Newydd manor in Llangollen, Denbighshire, during the 18th Century, and have become one of Wales' most famous lesbian couples. The auction, which will take place on 21 August in Cambridge, is expected to attract widespread interest, according to Steve Collins of Cheffins auction house. He said it was a "privilege to be able to offer these important pieces to the market", adding the sale represented "a powerful symbol of love, legacy, and defiance that continues to resonate". The lives of the pair, also simply known as the Ladies, partially inspired the hit BBC television show Gentlemen Jack, starring Suranne Jones and Sophie with the initials of the couple, the 23-piece Harlequin cutlery set with 10 additional pieces has been given a pre-sale price of between £800 and £1, the couple's deaths, Richard Jebb bought the silver at a Plas Newydd estate auction in was a land agent of Brynkinalt Estate in Wrexham, where the Ladies were tenants before moving to Plas 200 years later, his descendant has brought the cutlery back to auction. Norena Shopland, Welsh historian and director at Draig Enfys, an organisation which collects artefacts around LGBTQ+ people and issues in Wales, stressed the importance of the historical silverware."One of the difficulties, and the reason this collection is so important, is we have little amount of things to prove same-sex relationships throughout history," she said."There is a lot of lesbian history that is written away which portrays them as 'romantic friends', and the Ladies have suffered through that for a long time."Diversity, sexual orientation and gender identity has always been there."The historian added she would "love" to see the cutlery set returned to Plas Newydd, adding "I think it belongs there"."If somebody is planning to buy it and donate it to the house that would be great." Who were the Ladies of Llangollen? Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby met in 1768 in Ireland and later formed a romantic both belonged to influential Anglo-Irish families and were highly educated and well connected, but despite their traditional aristocratic background their characters were anything but two repeatedly broke societal norms, Ms Shopland said, dressing in male clothes and in top hats, riding astride on horseback throughout the countryside and refusing expected traditions and practices like marriage."People were a bit confused as to why they were doing this, they didn't understand same-sex relationships," Ms Shopland said."With women there was much more bewilderment about it but it was generally seen as 'unnatural' and thoroughly disapproved of." According to Ms Shopland, lesbians were understood at the time as "sapphists", an outdated term derived from the Greek poet Sappho and his depictions of same-sex relationships between term reflected the negative attitudes towards lesbians at the time, where it was heavily frowned upon, the historian said. After negotiations with their families, both women finally left Ireland for Wales in 1778, and in 1780 purchased they Plas Newydd."As they travelled through Wales, they stopped at Llangollen, loved it and decided to stay there for 50 years," Ms Shopland said. During their half a century at the town their notoriety grew among locals and Georgian high society, receiving visits from esteemed figures such as Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, the Duke of Wellington, English potter Josiah Wedgwood, and William Wordsworth."They were very well-loved in the area. Everyone knew they lived together and probably suspected they were 'sapphists' but people were very fond of them."Amid their colourful life, the Ladies' lifelong love for each other remained. They lived together, exchanged gifts of affection and wrote to each other often."You only have to read their letters. They talk about 'my beloved' and they were very, very affectionate towards each other," Ms Shopland 2 June 1829, Eleanor Butler died at the age of 90. Sarah Ponsonby died two years later aged 76. They are buried together in Llangollen at St Collen's Church, along with their housekeeper and friend, Mary Carryl.
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The horrors hiding in plain sight at the 'grand hotel' for rescued runaways - overseen by an evil doctor now regarded as one of the world's WORST unconvicted child abusers
As I opened the cutlery drawer to get the knives and forks out for dinner, I suddenly froze. Just looking at the spatulas and the serving spoons sent a shiver of horror through me.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bust of Sheffield's 'last little mester' Stan Shaw unveiled
A bust of a craftsman described as a "Sheffield cutlery legend" and the last of the city's "little mesters" has been unveiled at his former Stan Shaw spent almost 80 years hand-crafting blades for customers, including members of the Royal Family and famous rockstars, before his death aged 94 in bronze likeness, created by Sheffield artist Chris Denham, has been mounted on a plinth at Kelham Island Museum, where Mr Shaw worked from 2009 until his retirement in Shaw's son Kevan said: "He was just our dad when he was alive, but after his death, we suddenly realised how well-thought-of and important he was to Sheffield." The "little mesters" were a network of self-employed and specialised metalworkers in the city who rose to fame during the Victorian Shaw became an apprentice when he was 14 years old and spent the rest of his working life forging, grinding and finishing Elizabeth II and members of Elvis Presley's band were among those who received Denham, also a friend of Mr Shaw and his family, created a clay sculpture of the craftsman's head, which was scanned using laser technology to produce two accurate metallic other, which was made from stainless steel, is already on display at Cutlers' Hall in son called it a "true likeness" down to "the cracks on his face from 90 years of work and age"."We are so grateful to everyone involved in making this happen," he Museums chief executive Kim Streets said: "We're delighted to welcome this celebration of Stan and his legacy to the museum."Stan was a true master of his craft and it's wonderful to see him and his remarkable career recognised here, where he is remembered so fondly." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
