Appliance Repair Tips: Kitchen Items That Don’t Belong in Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher is a life saver. It cleans all your dirty plates and utensils without wasting your precious time, but before you start your next dishwasher cycle, take a look at the items you’ve loaded in the rack, are you sure they can withstand the intense washing your appliance supplies? Unfortunately, some objects can deteriorate or dull in your dishwasher, which can cause you to believe your dishwasher is in need of an appliance repair company. The truth is some objects are better suited for a good old fashioned hand wash. The list provided below can help you decipher between items that can and cannot be cleaned in your appliance.

Knives

If you want to avoid dulling your high-end kitchen knife, its best to keep it out of your dishwasher. A good hand wash also prevents your chopping knife from receiving any nicks due to other objects bumping into it during a cycle.

While putting most steak knives in your dishwasher is fine, you may want to refrain from placing a hollow handle steak knife through the intense wash. These utensils often use an adhesive to attach the blade to its handle and the extreme heat in your dishwasher can cause the adhesive to come undone.

Wooden Utensils

To determine whether or not you can put your wooden utensils in the dishwasher, it’s best to read the manufactures directions. While some wooden products are made to withstand the harsh heat of your appliance, others are not. A wooden item that lacks the resistance can end up warped, cracked, or even lose its finish.

Cast Iron

If you own a cast iron skillet, you probably understand the effort that goes into properly seasoning it. If you or another family member runs your skillet through the dishwasher, all that handwork is bound to get washed away. Due to cast irons tendency to rust, it’s not wise to place any item made of the material in your appliance.

Non-stick Pans

While not true for all non-stick pans, some do run the risk of losing their non-stick quality when cleaned in a dishwasher. If you didn’t read the manufactures booklet when you bought the pan, it’s better to stay on the safe side and wash the item in your kitchen sink.

Decorative Plates and Platters

Items with decorative patterns on them, especially gold trim, should stay out of your dishwasher. The colors can fade leaving your dishes looking dull and unattractive. The same goes for gold colored utensils.

While the modern day dishwasher often comes with a variety of wash cycles, it still isn’t a good idea to place certain items in the appliance. If you feel your appliance isn’t performing as well as it once did, please contact us today, and we’ll be happy to visit your home and diagnose the malfunction.