821. Using Tongs to Immerse Utensils

116:14 Kashering by immersion is only done in water; nothing should be mixed in it, not even ashes. (After the fact, it might still be effective - Mishnah Brurah 452:26.) If one immersed many vessels in the same pot, causing the water to become discolored like dye, he may no longer kasher utensils in this water. (It's possible that such water may be ineffective even after the fact - MB 452:27.)

116:15 If one uses tongs to help immerse utensils in the boiling water, he must release the utensil and catch it again. If he does not do this, the water cannot reach the place held by the tongs. It is better to put the vessels in a net or a basket. One should not immerse too many vessels at once so that they should not all touch one another. If this happens, where the utensils touch does not get kashered.