What can you not put in a dishwasher? Dishwashers are a great invention that have saved us countless hours in the kitchen. Not only do they free up time, but also a bunch of energy and water when cleaning dishes! However, there is but one catch.
If you put the wrong items inside this magical appliance, you can cause damage to it, and make your dishes a whole lot dirtier than when they originally entered.
So, what should you not put in a dishwasher?
This blog post will list ten dishwasher items that we recommend never putting inside for safety reasons, because they have been found to clog up the machine, or just because they’re going to cause a big mess!
Let’s get started.
What Can You Not Put in a Dishwasher?
#1 Types of Plastic (Not Dishwasher Safe)
Plastic is porous, which means that it can trap bacteria and oils from the food it comes in contact with. Those substances are then released into other dishes when they’re washed together. In addition to this, when plastic is heated, it warps and melts. This may not sound like a great idea if you want clean plates that are free from soggy plastic. With this in mind, we recommend avoiding putting plastic containers of any kind inside your dishwasher!
#2 Wood
Wood utensils can’t take the heat of a dishwasher, so they will warp or split. The high temperatures and harsh chemicals inside are just too much for your wooden spoons, knives, and spatulas to handle!
#3 Sharp Knives
Most of us keep our knives for a long time. But, eventually, they need to be sharpened, and the dishwasher is not kind to them! The high heat will make your blades go dull with extended use in this appliance.
Moreover, (and this is kind of a no-brainer,) but if you put sharp knives in your dishwasher, they can easily snag onto the dishes inside and break them, or cause injury to anyone who opens up the machine.
Definitely not a dishwasher item.
#4 Nonstick Pots and Pans
What should you not put in the dishwasher? Well, there are also nonstick pots and pans. The high temperatures in the dishwasher can cause your costly pots and pans to lose their nonstick coating. The intense heat will also wear out your expensive pots sooner than you would have liked!
#5 Cast Iron Cook
We’re not talking about your grandma’s cast iron skillet; we’re talking about the new pans that go on top of the stove. These should also never be put in a dishwasher! The high temperatures and harsh chemicals will cause them to warp or discolor over time (and you can’t get those stains off!)
#6 Crystal Glass
Hmmm… what can you not put in a dishwasher? We’ve already covered a few, but believe it or not, there are many more -and one of them is crystal!
Crystal glassware is super delicate and can easily break, chip, or crack in the dishwasher. Trust us; you don’t want a broken wine glass at your next dinner party, so avoid putting crystal dishes inside. The dishwasher is also not a good place for crystal because the chemicals and heat may stain it over time.
#7 Copper Pans and Mugs
The harshness of dishwasher detergents is not suitable for copper. Copper will corrode when exposed to the chemicals, and its natural antimicrobial properties are also destroyed in the process.
This leaves your expensive pots with an unattractive finish! So, when asking ”What should you not put in the dishwasher?” Copper pans and mugs have to be on the list.
#8 Printed Measuring Cups
We love our printed measuring cups, but we really don’t recommend them for dishwashers. The heat and chemicals can cause the ink to wash away over time. Ultimately, this is not only going to make your cup look pretty ugly, but also unusable!
#9 Anything Vintage
If you’re a collector of all things vintage, then the dishwasher is not an option! The high heat and harsh chemicals will destroy any vintage pieces that are inside. This includes ceramics, glassware, and dishes from your grandma’s cabinet of treasures!
Seriously, don’t use this as a dishwasher item -it will only leave you upset.
#10 Graters
Lastly, graters are another dishwasher ‘no-go.’ The grating surface will get roughed up and damaged by the harsh detergent, or it may even warp from the heat. So, you’ll end up with a mangled piece of kitchenware instead. Also, the rough texture may cause the sharp edges to cut and scratch your bottom dishes as they’re washing around!