What you can usually wash safely in your dishwasher.
And what you can’t.
Usually
Safe
Exceptions (not safe)
Instructions
Some colored anodized
Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
aluminum can fade.
scouring with soap-filled steel wool pads.
Antique, metal-trimmed,
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer. Or test wash
hand-painted or over-the-glaze
one piece daily for at least a month. Compare with the
patterns fade.
rest of the set.
Gold leaf will discolor.
Antique, metal-trimmed or
Load securely to prevent movement.
hand-painted patterns fade.
Check manufacturer’s instructions for your crystal.
Gold leaf will discolor.
Material
Aluminum
YES
YES
YES
China/
Stoneware
Crystal
items—such
as electronic
air cleaner
filters, furnace
filters, paint
brushes, etc.
Glass
NO
YES
Do not wash in dishwasher. Damage to dishwasher
and discoloration or staining of dishwasher may result.
I
Milk Glass may yellow.
Iron
NO
I
Iron will rust.
Pewter
Plastics
NO
YES
Pewter tarnishes.
If it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece
before
an entire set. Wash in top rack
Stainless steel
YES
YES
I
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if
Sterling
Silver
and Silver
plate
Don’t put in same silverware
basket with stainless steel.
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods can
stain if left on. Dry detergent can cause difficult-to-remove
spots.
in back section of silverware basket to
avoid exposure to detergent from the detergent cup.
Contact between
can
damage silver.
Don’t wash copper utensils in
the same load. Silver may get a
brown
Adhesive used to attach some
hollow-handle knives can loosen,
I
Non-stick
YES
coatings
After washing, wipe the non-stick coating area with
vegetable oil to keep it from losing its non-stick quality.
Tin
NO
Tin can rust.
I
I
Wood
NO
Wood can warp, crack or
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
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.
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