My motto when shopping for home goods is, “If it doesn’t go in the dishwasher (or washing machine), it doesn’t go in my house!” Washing dishes is one of my least favorite chores, so I do my absolute best to keep hand wash-only items out of my cabinets.
But despite my efforts, there are still a number of kitchen essentials I end up hand-washing, typically because I didn’t read the fine print when I bought them. (Seriously, who knew box graters shouldn’t go in the dishwasher?)
If you’re guilty of skipping the fine print, too, you might not realize that a few core kitchen items are actually only supposed to be hand-washed. To keep your tableware, cookware, and other kitchen accessories in top shape, make sure to keep these 15 things out of the dishwasher:
1. Cast Iron
Hopefully this doesn’t come as a shock, but your cast iron pans should never go in the dishwasher. In fact, you shouldn’t even use soap on them if you can help it. Soaps and abrasive sponges can damage the finish and seasoning of your precious pan, so stick to using coarse salt to scrub it down.
If you do accidentally wash your cast iron pan with soap (my roommates have done this to me before), don’t stress. It’s easy enough to reseason cast iron—you just need to oil it up, and bake it in the oven.
2. Nonstick Pots & Pans
The reason it's said you should never use metal utensils on nonstick pans is that they can damage the finish, ruining the effectiveness of the nonstick surface. The same thing can happen if your pots and pans get banged around in the dishwasher—the surface can get scratched, shortening its lifespan.
3. Crystal
Crystal glasses are delicate, and the high heat and/or water jets in your dishwasher can cause chips or cracks. Even if they do make it through the cycle, your glasses may develop a cloudy residue over time—so stick to hand-washing crystal and fine wine glasses.
4. Wooden Cutting Boards & Utensils
Wood and dishwashers just don’t mix. The heat of the dishwasher can cause wood to warp, and the drying cycle can make it crack. So please, keep your wooden cutting boards and utensils out of the dishwasher.
5. Insulated Travel Mugs
Most travel mugs have a special vacuum seal between the inner and outer shells, and this seal can be ruined if you put the cup in the dishwasher. Not only will this compromise the effectiveness of your best travel mug, but you may also get water in the walls that sloshes around as you drink.
6. Copper Pans
Copper is prone to tarnishing, and the harsh conditions of the dishwasher can ultimately ruin the shine of your beautiful copper pots and pans. Given that they’re typically quite pricey, I think it’s worth hand-washing them to protect your investment.
7. Your Best Knives
Of course you can put your butter knives in the dishwasher, but you might want to think twice about putting good kitchen and prep knives through the cycle. Why? The harsh conditions of the appliance can dull the edges of blades, forcing you to sharpen them more frequently. It can also cause carbon steel and other materials to rust.
8. Graters
There are two reasons to wash graters by hand. First, similar to with knives, the dishwasher can dull graters' blades. And second, chances are, a dishwasher won’t be able to get all the particles out of their little holes, so you’re better off doing it by hand anyway.
9. Aluminum Pans
Both aluminum cookware and disposable aluminum trays will become discolored when put into the dishwasher, if not sealed in some way. The metal can react with water and air in a process called oxidation, and becomes covered in a dark film that then rubs off on other items.
10. Pressure Cooker Lids
While technically the top of your Instant Pot is dishwasher-safe, it’s not the best cleaning option, as there are a number of important components in the lid of a pressure cooker. For instance, there are values that can get clogged with food particles, as well as seals that may be damaged by the dishwashing chemicals—both of which will shorten the lifespan of your appliance.
11. Milk Glass
The pure white hue of milk glass makes it a treasured collection piece for many, and it’s important to learn how to care for this material properly if you want it to last. Milk glass can take on a yellow tint if put in the dishwasher too many times, so you’ll want to wash it carefully with a gentle cloth and soapy water.
12. Thin Plastic Containers
Unless you know for a fact that a plastic container is dishwasher-safe, I’d recommend scrubbing it down the old-fashioned way. Thin plastic will sometimes melt or warp in the dishwasher, rendering the container useless—a lesson I’ve learned the hard way.
13. Pop-Top Storage Containers
Airtight storage containers are a must-have in any pantry, but when it comes time to clean them, the dishwasher is a gamble. Many say they’re dishwasher-safe, but the gaskets can warp and seals can break down if you wash them frequently.
14. Family Heirlooms
In general, it’s best to leave anything precious that's missing cleaning instructions out of the dishwasher. This applies to fine china, your grandmother’s favorite mixing bowl, or whatever else you hold near and dear. Don’t risk it getting dinged in the dishwasher!
15. Items with Labels or Adhesives
If you’ve ever put an empty pasta sauce jar through the dishwasher (guilty), you know that the label comes out a torn, soggy mess. Not only will the hot water ruin the label, but the pieces that flake off can clog your dishwasher’s filter, as well.
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Written by: Camryn Rabideau
Popular on Food52
107 Comments
If it's the difference between using it and leaving it in storage, I absolutely encourage people to wash sterling in the dishwasher. Estate silver expert Beverly Bremer gives it the OK, which is good enough for me. It can get a little cloudy over time, but no faster than it would take to tarnish - so I'm happy to polish it off when that time comes.
I also put my wooden utensils in the dishwasher on the top rack. They're cheap enough, so that when one warps and breaks, I can easily replace it.
I also put those 'disposable' storage containers and Tupperware in the dishwasher, again top rack only.
Why have the damn thing, if you're not going to use it?
I'd rather make sure my wood tools are genuinely clean than keep them out of the dishwasher for worry about hypothetical damage.
My baking stones … I always wiped them off with a damp cloth as soon as I removed the food and they were great. My partner, OTOH, I don't know what he does but I don't think he does anything with them and they look terrible. I'm thinking of putting them in the dishwasher with baking soda and see if that helps. I'm not sure if detergent is a good idea though.
So do not put candle wax in the dishwasher. (And while we’re on it, not the washer either. Creates a similar nightmare.)
Must be the " new and improved " Cast Iron pans...
No matter, they last lifetimes !
That said, I'm pretty sure the conditions in a dishwasher would de-season your cast iron like it was never there to begin with, and add a high likelihood of rusting if you don't immediately pull the pan out and dry it when the cycle is done.
I also dealt with a griddle “seasoned” with the “allow it to be coated w/blackened grime technique,” which didn't come off readily either. Eventually, I managed to chip through the layers so water could reach the surface and lift it, uncovering pristine cast iron. Never underestimate what someone who “knows” everything will do when they don't, like coating a pan with old eggs, onions, and vegetable oil and dubbing it seasoned.
Using drying oil, which means the oil cross-links, not that it physically evaporates, is supposed to be the easiest way to season cast iron. The best oils are, IIRC, flax and old-school lard. Olive oil works, too, as will most, but not as easily. Apply thin coats after heating, and you'll build up hard layers. At some point, you can start using the pan, but it won't be as nonstick as a thoroughly seasoned pan. If you add oil to a cold pan and don't heat it, you can wind up with a sticky mess.
I don't treat my tools as so precious I won't make them work for me, so I have no problem breaking the rules. I've always washed my cast iron as soon as I remove the food, so yes when it's hot. All I do is turn on the hot water, add a drop of soap, and give it a quick swirl with a brush or dishcloth, after which I put it upside down on the burner I just took it from. My cast iron is beautiful and rarely needs attention.
That's so cool you get to use your great-great-grandmother’s pans! They really are indestructible.
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