Archive · 13 Nov 2025
10 Items You Should Never Wash in Your Dishwasher
Imagine your dishwasher is like a powerful washing machine for dishes.
Some things, like your coffee mug that keeps drinks hot or cold, have special seals that the dishwasher's heat and water can break.
Wooden items, like cutting boards and spoons, can get waterlogged and warp or grow yucky mold.
Fancy glasses and plates with gold edges can lose their shine or break because the dishwasher is too rough.
Even metal things like sharp knives and nonstick pans can get damaged.
The dishwasher's hot water and strong soap can make knives dull and scratchy, and cause the nonstick coating to peel off your pans.
It's better to wash these special items by hand with gentle soap to keep them working well and looking nice for a long time.
Insulated mugs can lose their vacuum seal, affecting temperature retention.
Wooden cutting boards and utensils are prone to warping, cracking, and mold growth.
Fine china, antiques, wine glasses, and crystalware risk damage from heat and harsh detergents.
Sharp knives can become dull, chip, or rust when washed in a dishwasher.
Nonstick cookware's protective coating can degrade, reducing its effectiveness.
Copper cookware may lose its luster and become tarnished or spotted.
Cast-iron cookware's seasoning can be stripped, leading to rust.
Hand washing is recommended for these items to preserve their quality and longevity.
Dishwasher use can impact the performance and lifespan of both kitchenware and the appliance.
Some items, even if labeled 'dishwasher-safe,' may still be better off hand-washed.
- Who
- Dishwasher users
- What
- 10 items that should not be washed in a dishwasher
- When
- When washing kitchen items
- Where
- In the kitchen
- Why
- To prevent damage to kitchenware and maintain dishwasher performance
- Insulated Mugs
- Heat/jets damage vacuum seal.
- Wooden Cutting Boards
- Can warp, crack, or split.
- Wine Glasses/Crystalware
- Can break, become cloudy.
- Sharp Knives
- Blades can dull, chip, rust; handles loosen.
- Fine China/Antiques
- Patterns can fade, rims wear off, cracking.
- Nonstick Cookware
- Coating can peel.
- Copper Cookware
- Surface can become dull, tarnished, spotted.
- Cast-Iron Cookware
- Seasoning can be stripped, rust can form.
- Wooden Utensils
- Can swell, crack, grow mold, lose shape.