5 Things that Don’t Belong in the Dishwasher

Dishwashers are one of the most amazing modern appliances in existence. Yes, it can feel like yours always needs emptying, but the alternative -washing everything by hand – is far worse. (We shudder just thinking about it). Unfortunately, not everything goes in the dishwasher. Maybe even some things you love to put in the dishwasher don’t belong there. And there is no time to stop putting them in the dishwasher like immediately after you read this post.  

Wood 

Whether it be that wooden cutting board that you just carved the Thanksgiving turkey on, or the wooden spoon you used to stir grandma’s secret chili recipe, wood does not belong in the dishwasher. The high heat and humidity of the dishwasher will warp the wood or even cause it to separate and fall apart. Anything wooden is best left to handwashing and immediate drying.  

Cast Iron 

From the way people talk about cast iron, you would think it was precious and delicate. But if you just do one key thing, you can keep your cast iron beautiful for decades, if not centuries. That one thing is to keep it dry and oiled – a task the dishwasher is wildly ill-equipped for. The amount of water, humidity and detergents in a dishwasher will strip away all the layers of oil that make cast iron pans work so well and will eventually cause them to rust. Plain water and an abrasive brush or salt, and some oil when it’s dry, are all your cast iron needs.  

Travel Mugs 

You are doing your part for the environment by putting your hot beverage in a reusable, insulated mug, which is fantastic. Unfortunately, a travel mug may take a little more effort than you originally thought – you’ll have to hand wash it. The high, prolonged heat of the dishwasher puts the seal, which helps keep your beverage hot, at risk. Luckily, these mugs are easy to wash, dry, and fill right back up with life-sustaining coffee.  

Sharp Knives 

Unless the manufacturer specifically says otherwise, sharp knives will dull much quicker in the dishwasher than they would if you washed them by hand. The blade can also cause damage to your dishwasher. Unless you prefer your knives dull, keep them out of the dishwasher.  

Non-stick 

More and more, manufacturers are making cookware “dishwasher safe”, and if yours explicitly says it is, you can put it in the dishwasher. But the high heat and pressure can wear down the non-stick finish on these items and cause them to flake off or crack. Once that happens, the item starts to develop rust or fails to be non-stick. These are best to handwash and do so only with non-abrasive cleaning tools.  

This is by no means an exhaustive list of what shouldn’t go in your dishwasher – cats, children and cars are also on the list, for instance – but these are some of the most common things people add to their dishwasher that would be better handwashed. A little effort now will mean longevity for your kitchenware!