Hello, again!
I think you are saying that DH installed a new Âdrain basket. That will seal at the drain hole with the help of either plumbers putty or silicone caulk. Any Âneck might be under the sink. If you are looking at the inside, the Âfunky color could mean oxidation of the base metal.

Not all baskets are metal. Those that are, are often plated with a decorative finish. If the finish is damaged or non-existent, as with a utility sink basket, the metal would be exposed to the wash water. If your "silverware" is silver ware, it has a finish that is easily tarnished.

Tarnishing is usually so thin that it can be polished off many times over. But the process is the same as that of a lead-acid battery. In the sink two noble metals, such as silver and copper (alloyed in the basket) might be exchanging ions, or Âtarnishing or Âstaining, depending on what it is you actually have.

At least, this is an explanation based in science. Could that be "What happened?"

Pinoke

Hi Pinoke,
Thanks for your help.
No, I only have stainless steel silverware. If something lays across that drain basket, it can develop a multicolored spot on it, where it was touching. If it IS the basket's fault, does that mean we should have bought a metal basket?
Is is possible that its happening because of the composition of our water? (and the reaction with the drain basekt)? Are there any waters that actually cause this reaction, even with a metal basket? I haven't tried to get the spots out yet. I was afraid I'd permanently ruin the (not)silverware. Thanks for your help Pinoke.

Yah. ThatÂs a tough call. Stainless Steel" comes in many grades and even the best of them is subject to Âoxidation. Then, again, a basket that is primarily plastic is not accessible to ionic exchange. I wish I could explain this, but the specifics of your water quality, the basket materials and the tableware alloy all have influence.

And so do other factors, such as the foods you prepare. Spinach is full of iron. Vinegar is a mild but significant acid. Salt can release metals. And so on. All of this is common water chemistry.

There are other things, too, which are common influences. Water hardness and even softness are chemical states. There are just too many variables to peg one of them as a source of a result.

When trying to solve a problem of this kind, it makes good sense to use the Âscientific method. That means you change one variable at a time and log the results. So, you may never know the reason, but if changing the basket to an all-plastic kind stopped the staining, the answer would be hidden in that dynamic.

IÂm certain, that if the tableware were changed to plastic, the problem would cease. Somewhere in the midst of all options is the relevant cause-and-effect.

Pinoke

Thanks Pinoke!