I put my sterling in the dishwasher but never plate. if there is any base metal showing where the silver has worn or is scratched it will discolor. So silver is not the problem, but the stuff under is...I use Finish pods.

Thank you! But darn, it sounds so easy. I hardly use them now and therefore don't polish them. The edges are all fancy so it's a real pain to get them shiny and nice.

You sure it's plate?...wrap them well in silver cloth ( available on the web) and they will stay shiny...and dishwashers don't polish....in fact some detergents, notably cascade pods, cause the silver to yellow!!

Yes, they're all from Oneida silversmiths - won in golf tournaments! I've purchased silver cloth but it was only small pieces for polishing jewelry... and not cheap! I'd need many yards of it to cover these trays.

You don't need to buy the "brand name" silver cloth to protect your silver. I have bought this stuff and it works just fine....has kept my silver candelabra polished for easily 10 years. Stack your trays and wrap this around them.
https://www.voguefabricsstore.com/anti-tarnish-silver-cloth-black.html?category_id=1306

Your mother's silverplate is obviously in good condition. It's when there is a worn spot that that discolors.
That business about never allowing silver never to touch another metal has been outdated with the newer detergents. I have a coouple of black spots from somewhere in the 70's....but the newer detergents don't promote the galvanic action like the old ones did. I load stainless knives and sterling spoons with no worries about touching....and haven't had any problems in more than 30 years. ( well I have had problems....but not with silver in the dishwasher! ;-)

Wow, that is great to know, Linda. I always stop anyone else from loading the silver so I can do it "right", now they can help! My mom's silverplate was our "good" silverware when I was growing up and I always loved it. It's a simple pattern, not too fancy. I saved it for "good", too, but then realized no one is going to want it when I die, so what am I saving it for? I've used it every day since and get more compliments on it.

Olychick, you say it doesn't prevent tarnish -- does that mean the dishwasher detergent doesn't remove tarnish?! I have lots of these trays and other silver plate items from Oneida... Most are wrapped for storage, but I keep two trays out all the time. One is used as a dresser tray, and my largest sits under my huge wooden salad bowl to be used as a carrying tray when needed. It's the most ornate and a pain to polish. :(

lindac, that's awesome! Bookmarked!

My mom's silverplate was our "good" silverware when I was growing up and I always loved it. It's a simple pattern, not too fancy. I saved it for "good", too, but then realized no one is going to want it when I die, so what am I saving it for? I’ve used it every day since...

Olychick: Thank you for writing that. You have inspired me to start using my grandmother’s silverplate—Lady Hamilton, I believe—as my daily silverware. :)

Wow, Sammy, my mom's is Lady Hamilton, too!! It's a lovely pattern. Hope you enjoy using it as much as I do.

Party_music, no, the dishwasher does not remove tarnish. You still have to polish once in a while. Where do you live? I love to polish silver and would do it for you. These days, I put towels on my coffee table along with a couple of tupperware bins, then find something to stream and watch and polish away. I tried putting the silver in the dw to clean off the polish, but it doesn't work very well, so I do hand wash with liquid detergent to get all the polish off.

Ha! Dishwasher doesn't help me then if it doesn't remove tarnish! I'd love if you would polish it for me Olychick, but I think we're on opposite coasts... I'm in central NY. I think it's actually the odor of the tarnish/polish that bothers me. It permeates my senses and seems to stick with me for at least a day. :(

Wonder what you are using for polish? I use Wright's and don't notice any smell at all.

Well, there you have it. I use Wright's creme and love the smell of silver polish!

I use Wrights too. You don't smell the tarnish? Ugh.

I smell the tarnish....but not the polish...tarnished silver stinks! mostly tarnish is silver sulfide....which stinks! Bite the bullet, polish it off and don't allow it to get that bad again... a quick swish at the sink with a wet sponge and a little silver polish and then immediately rinse will keep the stink at a minimum....and you DO polish your silver at the sink, don't you? I use Wrights, stand at the sink with a very wet sponge and wash the tarnish away and rinse and repeat on spots I missed. Wash your tarnished trays with a cellulose sponge and warm water and dish detergent...I use palmolive but others work. Then put some silver polish on that sponge and work up a lather washing the piece....rinse and look for spots you may have missed and repeat....rinse and dry with a soft towel.
and in the future, at the first sign of yellowish...wash it with some silver polish on a wet sponge. Don't just put the paste polish on your item...use it as a soap and wash away the stinkl...ugh...no wonder you hate to polish!

I polish exactly as you're advising, Linda. I'm just really sensitive to most odors.

Cloths pin on your nose?? Just kidding!

I purchased a jar of clear liquid, Goddards (est. 1839) silver dip and smells like the old hair perm solution. It does a quick job but turns plate almost yellow. Great for jewelry and sterling silver.

And really good for gradually dissolving all your silver off.

colleenoz, do you mean from silver plate?

Yes. It also strips away the darker patina that develops in the crevices of a pattern on solid sterling which accentuates the pattern. Which makes it sort of boring and characterless.

works well on sterling chains but I understand about removing the crevices.

dipping Sterling makes it look like chrome....

Anyone havehave first love love silerplate? Been trying to add to my great grandmother 's set.

Try eBay.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rogers-First-Love-37pc-Set-of-International-Silver-Plated-Flatware-c1937/223658941695?hash=item34131c9cff:g:6OMAAOSw5uxdbGAd