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Do you think that buying a dishwasher will completely relieve you of the hassle of washing dishes? First you need to know what can not be washed in the dishwasher. Not all kitchen utensils can be sent to PMM – this threatens to damage the dishes themselves or machine parts. Let’s figure out what dishes can and cannot be put in the dishwasher.
Considering that today it is made not from two or three standard materials, but from a whole variety, it is not always easy to understand what is worth cleaning manually. On the shelves you can find glass, porcelain, faience, crystal, cast iron, ceramic, wood, cupronickel, plastic, silver, stainless and other items.
We advise you to carefully read the tips to know what is not subject to automatic processing. Take a look at the list of what can be washed in the dishwasher.
Aluminum – away from PMM!
This is the first and main unwanted guest on the shelves of the dishwasher. The metal easily comes into contact with substances, even with water under certain conditions. In contact with chemical components dissolved in hot water, baking sheets, bowls, mugs and other aluminum products become covered with a dark gray coating. If you inadvertently sent aluminum utensils to the PMM, be careful: the plaque is easily soiled, it can leave marks on your hands and other utensils.
Hundreds of people messed up by mistake:
- parts from meat grinders, juicers;
- garlic crushers;
- spoons and forks;
- geyser coffee makers;
- buckets;
- contrary;
- pots and pans, etc.
There is several ways to remove plaquethat appeared after washing – read about them in a separate article.
Important! If you care about your health, replace aluminum cookware with more harmless options.
Some aluminum utensils will darken on the first wash, but this can happen on the second or third wash as well. Therefore, if your friends tell you: “Yes, I have already washed aluminum in the dishwasher three times, everything is fine!” Do not take my word for it.
What happens in the PMM bunker
Why is one plate easy to clean in automatic mode, and the second cannot be sent to the machine? In the washing chamber, manufacturers have created special conditions that affect the materials. Let’s designate these factors:
- high temperature (water or air during drying);
- strong chemicals in detergents;
- prolonged stay in water, etc.
Considering that even porcelain can react differently to exposure to high temperature water, it will not be easy to remember which factors other materials react to. So just put both aluminum and the materials listed below on your stop list.
Wooden and plastic utensils
Everything that is made of wood, many invariably strive to wash it in a typewriter. Of course, then panic and questions “What to do?” follow. It’s simple: a tree with prolonged contact with water tends to swell. Wood is completely saturated with moisture, its dimensions grow, and the product changes its original appearance. After drying, it shrinks, and the bond between the fibers at this moment is irrevocably destroyed.
What do we get as a result? Complete or partial, but significant deformation of the object, cracks and unsightly appearance. It is enough for a wooden rolling pin to lie in water for half an hour to swell – and this is in a cold one, in a hot one the process goes even faster. In PMM, the washing cycle can be extended up to 4 hours, plus chemistry – the device cannot stand this.
Usually housewives put such dishes made of wood into the machine:
- wooden boards;
- pistils;
- shoulder blades;
- bowls or plates;
- hot coasters and much more.
Plastic utensils are less demanding than wooden utensils, but successful washing can only be done if a number of conditions are met. If the plastic is not a heat-resistant type, there will definitely be a “Do Not Wash!” sign on the dishes, otherwise you will find a sign that allows washing in the dishwasher.
100% forbidden to wash in PMM:
- disposable tableware;
- plates without permission icons;
- toys that emit a strong chemical smell;
- plastic utensils with glued parts or decor;
- plastic containers, bottles without marks allowing automatic washing.
What is better to wash by hand
Aluminium, plastic and wood are not the only materials that are not put on the dishwasher shelves. Do not wash in the dishwasher:
- Porcelain cups and saucers. All chinaware is best washed by hand, but fine china is especially sensitive to automatic washing and turbo drying.
- Cast iron cookware. For one sink with cast-iron grates, pots, cauldrons and other utensils, nothing will happen. But over time (for 2-3 washings) you will notice a change for the worse. Corrosion takes cast iron – the appearance will be completely damaged, and the unique qualities will be lost.
- Crystal. Rinse your favorite crystal dinner set under the tap so as not to encounter “glass corrosion” (microcracks and scratches) and so that glasses and salad bowls do not burst from temperature fluctuations. If you still want to take the risk, then there are some tips, how to secure crystal in PMM as much as possible.
- Vacuum containers. Containers, mugs, pots and thermoses pump out air, creating a vacuum inside. With intensive washing, the useful property may be violated, and your favorite thermo mug or lunch box will not keep the temperature of the food.
Important! If there is a mark on the thermos or thermo mug that allows washing in PMM, wash it. If the icon is not found – better by hand.
- Sharp knives. There is an unspoken rule: in order not to dull the knife, it is washed quickly and under lukewarm water. If you leave your knife in hot water for a few minutes, sharpening will become worse, and constant washing of knives at high temperatures will force you to sharpen your knives several times a week.
Important! Do not put other sharp objects in the PMM (knives from a blender, graters, barbecue forks) – they will quickly become “dull”.
- Copper utensils, silver and cupronickel. Like aluminum, these metals do not tolerate contact with powders and hot water. Copper darkens and loses its attractiveness.
We also do not recommend sending the following items to the containers of the machine:
- silicone molds will withstand the temperature, but washing can affect their properties (according to reviews, pastries will not stick well);
- enameled dishes (enamel will crack);
- clay pots (cracked);
- thin ceramic dishes;
- electric grill plates (teflon);
- refrigerator shelves (metal, painted – the coating comes off easily);
- aquarium (may stick or crack);
- hood elements – a filter and parts made of aluminum.
Answers to questions
Having collected all the readers’ questions related to the topic, we answered in detail the most interesting and relevant ones.
Question: Can Tefal pans be washed in the dishwasher?
Answer: The non-stick properties of Teflon pans can be broken after 2-3 washes in the PMM. Studying the forums of housewives, we came to the conclusion that some calmly wash such dishes in the typewriter for years, while the latter complain that they have already “killed” several pans, despite the permission sign. It’s about the quality of the pan and the aggressiveness of detergents.
Question: Can the electric kettle be washed?
Answer: Yes, manually. In order not to damage the appliance, rinse the kettle with warm water under the tap.
Question: Is it possible to wash the jug “Barrier” or “Aquaphor” in the washing machine?
Answer: You can. Choose a temperature cycle for washing the jug up to 40 degrees.
Question: I want to wash the steamer with other than my hands. Will it spoil?
Answer: Depends on the material of the steamer. An aluminum container will deteriorate, and a plastic steamer has no contraindications.
Question: I was going to sterilize the jars in the dishwasher. Never tried. What mode to set?
Answer: In the absence of the “sterilization of cans” function (in some Bosch models), choose a temperature regime of at least 60 degrees.
We hope that our advice will be useful to you. Happy washing experiments.