5 things you should never put in the dishwasher

Wood: This includes wooden spoons, salad bowls, chopsticks, and cutting boards. Wood will swell and crack in the dishwasher. Cutting boards or bowls can split & break.

Knives: You can put your cheap butter knives in there, but never the larger, nicer ones. The harsh detergent will cause nicks and scratches on the blade, dulling it. Also, putting and removing sharp, large knives is likely to cause damage to the dishwasher rack itself.

Crystal/Hand-blown Glass: These items are not just sensitive to heat (they can crack), but abrasive detergent can chip and etch them as well, causing them to lose their brilliance. They should be gently hand washed and dried with a soft, lint free towel.

Pots & Pans: It's generally not a good idea to put pots & pans in the dishwasher. After running a few cycles on them, some pots and pans will end up with loose handles and seals/top coatings can come off. Additionally, here are particular types that should definitely not go into the dishwasher:

--Nonstick/Anodized Aluminum: The coating will wear out and break down and it will no longer be non-stick. This includes bakeware.

--Cast Iron: It will rust and lose its seasoning. After rinsing with water, heat on the stove to completely dry.

--Enameled Cast Iron: These are very prone to chipping. Plates and bowls may hit against the pot during the cycle.

--Aluminum: It's extremely vulnerable to nicks and scratches. This includes thermoses and water bottles.

Acrylic: Some of the acrylic tableware I have says top rack dishwasher safe, but in my experience it usually wears, dulls & eventually starts to crack.

Final tips: It's not always as easy as looking at the label to see whether something is dishwasher safe. Keep in mind that the environment inside a dishwasher is hot, humid, and wet. The detergent in abrasive. The water spray is not gentle (it's trying to spray off that caked-in spaghetti sauce). The top rack generally gets a gentler wash than the bottom. If you keep these things in mind, you'll be able to make better decisions about what to put in and what to keep out of the dishwasher.

Check back often for more household tips from Melanie Wright, Realtor/CDPE
(707) 410-6634