Silver-plated forks along with other silver flatware are vulnerable to tarnish, spotting and pitting if they are incorrectly treated and washed. Take extra care if you are washing silver-plated flatware in a microwave or you could wind up damaging it.
Independent the Metals
Never wash silver-plated flatware with stainless-steel flatware in precisely the same dishwasher load. The silver and stainless steel chemically react in the presence of automatic dish-washing detergent, causing silver ions to disassociate in the silver plate and move to the stainless steel. This leaves pits on the silver plate and might cause spotting of the stainless steel, especially if the metals are touching each other.
Safe Way to Clean
Hand washing with a mild dish-washing fluid is actually the safest way to clean silver-plated flatware. Wash the flatware in warm sudsy water right after the meal is completed. Rinse them with cool tap water and instantly dry using a clean, soft cloth.