What you can usually wash safely in your dishwasher.
And what you can’t.
Usually
Safe
Material
Exceptions (not safe)
Special Instructions
Aluminum
YES
Some colored anodized
aluminum can
Antique, metal-trimmed,
hand-painted or over-the-glaze
patterns fade.
Gold
will discolor.
Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
with
steel wool
Stoneware
YES
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer. Or test wash
one piece daily for at least a month. Compare with the
rest of the set.
Crystal
YES
Antique, metal-trimmed or
hand-painted patterns fade
Gold leaf will discolor.
Load securely to prevent movement.
Check manufacturer’s instructions for your crystal
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
YES
Milk Glass may yellow
Iron
NO
Iron will rust.
Pewter
NO
Pewter tarnishes.
Plastics
YES
it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece
before
an entire set. Wash in top rack only.
Stainless steel
YES
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if left on.
Sterling Silver
and Silver plate
YES
Don’t put in same silverware
basket with stainless steel.
Contact between metals can
damage silver.
Don’t wash copper cookware
in the same load. Silver may
a brown film
Adhesive used to attach some
hollow-handle knives can loosen.
Rinse if
washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if
on. Dry detergent can cause
to-remove
spots. Place in back section of silverware
basket to avoid exposure to detergent from the detergent cup.
Non-stick
coatings
Tin
YES
After washing, wipe the non-stick coating area with
vegetable
to keep it from losing its non-stick quality.
NO
Tin can rust.
Wood
NO
Wood can warp, crack or lose
its finish with any type washing.
Forget a dish? Here’s
when you can add it.
Add dishes any time during the
RINSE & HOLD cycle. With
However, opening the door during
2. Wait
seconds until the
any cycle lessens cleaning power
water calms. Then open the
because the temperature inside the
dishwasher is lowered. So try to
3. Add dishes you’ve forgotten.
load everything at the beginning.
4. Close the door and push the
other wash cycles,
can add
dishes at any time BEFORE the main
Here’s how to add a forgotten dish:
latch to the far right. When the
door is locked, washing will
detergent wash portion
the cycle.
1. Push the door latch to the left.
continue.
Washing
stop.
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