What you can usually wash safely in your dishwasher.
And what you can’t.
Usually
Material
Safe
Exceptions (not safe)
Special Instructions
Aluminum
YES
Some colored
Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
aluminum can fade.
scouring with soap-filled steel wool pads.
China/
YES
Antique, metal-trimmed,
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer. Or test wash
Stoneware
hand-painted or over-the-glaze
one piece daily for at least a month. Compare with the
patterns fade.
rest of the set.
leaf will discolor.
Crystal
YES
Antique, metal-trimmed or
Load securely to prevent movement.
hand-painted patterns fade.
Check manufacturer’s instructions for your crystal.
Gold leaf will discolor.
NO
Do not wash in dishwasher. Damage to dishwasher
items-such
and discoloration or staining of dishwasher may result.
as
electronic
air cleaner
filters, furnace
filters,
brushes,
Glass
YES
Milk Glass may yellow.
Iron
NO
Iron will rust.
Pewter
NO
Pewter tarnishes.
Plastics
YES
If it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece
before
an entire set. Wash in top rack only.
steel
YES
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if
on.
Sterling
Silver
YES
Don’t put in same silverware
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods can
and Silver
basket with stainless
stain if left on. Dry detergent can cause difficult-to-remove
Contact between
can
black spots. Place in back section of silverware basket to
damage silver.
avoid exposure to detergent from
detergent cup.
Don’t use copper utensils in
the same load. Silver may get a
brown
Adhesive used to attach some
hollow-handle knives can
Non-stick
YES
After washing, wipe the non-stick coating area with
coatings
vegetable oil 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.
a dish? Here’s when
However, opening the door during
2. Wait a few seconds until the
you can add it.
any cycle lessens cleaning power.
water calms. Then open the door.
Add dishes any time during the
So try to load everything at the
3. Add dishes you’ve forgotten.
RINSE HOLD cycle. With other
beginning.
4. Close the door and push the
wash cycles, you can add dishes
Here’s how to add a forgotten dish:
latch to the far right. When the
at any time BEFORE the main
1. Push the door latch to the left.
door is locked, washing will
detergent wash portion of the cycle.
Washing will stop.
continue.
10
