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15 Things You Should Never Put in the Dishwasher
The dishwasher can be one of the biggest time-savers in the kitchen. Instead of standing over the sink washing a pile of dishes, you can load everything up, add detergent, and let the dishwasher do the work.
However, not everything in your kitchen belongs in the dishwasher.
The combination of hot water, strong detergent, high temperatures, and powerful water jets can damage certain items. Some things may become dull, warped, cracked, or rusty, while others can lose their finish or protective coating.
Before you put everything into your next dishwasher load, take a look at these 15 things you should never put in the dishwasher.
1. Wooden Cutting Boards
Wooden cutting boards, wooden spoons, and other wooden kitchen utensils generally don’t do well in the dishwasher.
The combination of hot water and prolonged soaking can cause wood to swell and eventually crack, split, or warp. The heat of the drying cycle can make the problem even worse.
Instead, wash wooden kitchen items by hand with warm, soapy water and allow them to dry completely.
2. Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron skillets and other cast iron cookware should stay out of the dishwasher.
Dishwasher detergent and prolonged exposure to water can strip away the seasoning that gives cast iron its nonstick surface. It can also leave the cookware vulnerable to rust.
Cast iron is best cleaned by hand. Dry it thoroughly after washing and, when needed, apply a thin layer of cooking oil to help protect the surface.
3. Good Kitchen Knives
Your everyday butter knives may be fine in the dishwasher, but your good-quality kitchen knives are better off being washed by hand.
The heat, moisture, and detergent can eventually dull the blades. Knives can also bang against other utensils while the dishwasher is running, which can damage the cutting edge.
There is also a safety issue when reaching into a dishwasher full of sharp knives.
For your best knives, hand wash them with warm, soapy water and dry them right away.
4. Nonstick Cookware
Many nonstick pans and skillets are not dishwasher-friendly, even when they technically can be placed in the dishwasher.
Repeated exposure to high heat and harsh detergent can shorten the life of the nonstick coating. Over time, the coating may begin to wear away.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions before putting nonstick cookware in the dishwasher. When in doubt, hand washing is usually the gentler option.
5. Copper Cookware
Copper pots and pans can lose their beautiful finish when exposed to dishwasher detergent and high temperatures.
The surface may become dull, discolored, or tarnished. Some copper cookware also has a special finish that can be damaged by dishwasher cleaning.
If you want your copper cookware to maintain its appearance, wash it by hand according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
6. Wooden-Handled Utensils
Wooden handles on kitchen utensils can suffer from the same problems as wooden cutting boards.
Repeated exposure to hot water and the dishwasher’s drying cycle can cause the wood to dry out, crack, loosen, or warp.
This includes wooden-handled knives, spatulas, serving utensils, and other kitchen tools.
If an item has a wooden handle, hand washing is generally the safer choice.
7. Fine China
Fine china, antique dishes, and delicate dinnerware are usually better washed by hand.
The dishwasher can cause delicate pieces to chip or crack, particularly if they bump against other dishes during the cycle. Gold, silver, or decorative details may also fade or become damaged.
If the dishes are especially valuable or sentimental, don’t take a chance. Wash them carefully by hand.
8. Crystal Glassware
Crystal glasses can be particularly vulnerable to the dishwasher.
High temperatures and harsh detergents may cause cloudiness, etching, or other damage. Delicate crystal can also crack or break if it gets knocked against another item.
For special crystal glasses, hand washing with a mild dish soap is the better option.
9. Items With Gold or Metallic Trim
Those beautiful plates, cups, and glasses with gold, silver, or other metallic designs should generally be kept out of the dishwasher.
The combination of heat and detergent can gradually wear away the decorative finish.
Even if an item looks fine after the first few dishwasher cycles, repeated washing can eventually cause the metallic details to fade or disappear.
10. Insulated Travel Mugs and Thermoses
Be careful with insulated travel mugs, tumblers, and thermoses.
Some are dishwasher-safe, but others can be damaged by the high temperatures. Depending on the design, the dishwasher can also affect the insulation or allow water to get trapped between layers.
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions before putting an insulated container in the dishwasher.
If you’re unsure, wash it by hand.
11. Aluminum Cookware
Aluminum cookware can discolor or become dull when washed in the dishwasher.
The combination of dishwasher detergent, heat, and minerals in the water can cause the aluminum to develop a gray or cloudy appearance.
While some modern aluminum cookware is designed to be dishwasher-safe, older or untreated aluminum pieces are generally better washed by hand.
12. Sharp Graters and Microplanes
Cheese graters, zesters, and microplanes can be tricky to clean in the dishwasher.
The dishwasher may not completely remove food particles caught in the tiny holes, and repeated exposure to moisture can contribute to corrosion on some types.
They’re also extremely sharp, which makes them easy to accidentally grab while unloading the dishwasher.
Carefully washing these tools by hand can help keep them clean and protect their sharp surfaces.
13. Pressure Cooker Sealing Rings and Certain Small Parts
Small removable parts from pressure cookers and other kitchen appliances can be easy to overlook.
While some parts are dishwasher-safe, others may need to be washed by hand. Sealing rings, valves, gaskets, and specialized components can be damaged or affected by heat and detergents depending on the material.
Always check the care instructions for your particular appliance before putting its removable parts in the dishwasher.
14. Items With Adhesive Labels
Glass jars and containers with paper labels may seem harmless to put in the dishwasher, but the labels can come loose during the cycle.
The paper can clog the dishwasher filter or drain, while pieces of adhesive and paper can stick to other dishes.
If you want to reuse a jar, remove the label first whenever possible. This can also make it easier to clean the container thoroughly.
15. Anything Marked “Hand Wash Only”
This one may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning because manufacturers put those instructions on products for a reason.
If a dish, pan, utensil, or kitchen gadget specifically says “hand wash only,” don’t assume it will be fine in the dishwasher.
The manufacturer may be trying to protect a coating, finish, seal, decorative detail, or material that doesn’t hold up well to dishwasher conditions.
When you’re unsure, check the care instructions before loading it.
What About Plastic?
Plastic can be a little more complicated.
Some plastic containers, plates, and utensils are specifically labeled dishwasher-safe. Others can warp, melt, discolor, or release odors when exposed to high temperatures.
If you’re putting plastic in the dishwasher, check for a dishwasher-safe label or symbol and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
When possible, place dishwasher-safe plastic items on the top rack, where they are generally exposed to less intense heat.
How to Know If Something Is Dishwasher-Safe
If you’re unsure whether an item can go in the dishwasher, look for a dishwasher-safe symbol or check the packaging and manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep in mind that “dishwasher-safe” and “safe for the top rack” aren’t always the same thing. Some items are only designed for the top rack because the heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher can expose them to higher temperatures.
When you can’t find any information, hand washing is usually the safest option.
Save Your Kitchenware by Washing These Items by Hand
The dishwasher is convenient, but using it for everything can shorten the life of some of your favorite kitchen items.
Wood, cast iron, delicate glassware, fine china, copper, and certain cookware and appliance parts are better treated with a little extra care.
Taking a few minutes to wash these items by hand can help prevent cracked handles, damaged finishes, rust, warped materials, and other expensive replacements.
When in doubt, check the manufacturer’s care instructions before putting an item in the dishwasher. A few extra minutes at the sink can save you from having to replace a favorite kitchen tool later.
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