WHAT YOU CAN USUALLY WASH SAFELY
IN YOUR DISHWASHER
Usually
Safe
Material
Exceptions (not safe)
Special Instructions
Aluminum
YES
YES
Some colored
anodized
aluminum
can fade.
Antique, metal-trimmed,
hand-painted or over-the-glaze
patterns fade. Gold leaf
discolor.
Antique, metal-trimmed or
hand-painted patterns fade.
Gold leaf will discolor.
Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
scouring with soap-filled steel wool pads.
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer. Or test wash
one piece
for at least a month. Compare with the
rest of the set.
Stoneware
Crystal
YES
Load securely to prevent movement. Select CHINA-
CRYSTAL cycle. Check your manufacturer’s
instructions for your crystal.
Non-dishwasher
items—such
as electronic
air cleaner
filters, furnace
filters, paint
brushes, etc.
NO
Do not wash in dishwasher. Damage to dishwasher
and discoloration or staining of dishwasher may result
Glass
YES
Iron
Pewter
Plastics
NO
NO
Iron
rust.
Pewter tarnishes.
If it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece in
the top rack before
an entire set.
YES
Stainless steel
Sterling silver
silver
YES
YES
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acidic foods
can stain if left on.
Don’t put in same silverware
basket with stainless steel.
Contact between metals can
damage silver.
Don’t wash copper utensils in
the same load. Silver may get a
brown film.
Adhesive used to attach some
hollow-handle knives can loosen.
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acidic foods can
stain if left on. Dry detergent can cause difficult-to-remove
black spots. Place in back section of silverware basket to
avoid exposure to detergent from the detergent cup.
Non-stick
coatings
YES
After washing, wipe the non-stick coating area with
vegetable oil to keep it from losing its non-stick quality.
Tin
Wood
NO
NO
Tin can rust.
Wood can warp, crack or lose
its finish with any type of washing.
Forget a dish? Here’s when you can add it.
dishes
time
the RINSE & HOLD
Here’s how to add forgotten dish:
cycle. With other wash
you can add dishes
1. Push the door latch the
Washing will stop.
at
time BEFORE the main detergent wash portion
the
2. Wait a few seconds until the water calms. Then
However, opening the door during any cycle
open the
WARNING: Hot vapor may rise
lessens cleaning power. So try to load everything
opened door.
at the beginning.
3. Add dishes you’ve forgotten.
4.
the door and push the latch the
right.
When the door is locked, washing
continue.
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