What you can usually wash safely in your dishwasher.
And what you can’t.
Usually
Material
Safe
Exceptions (not safe)
Special Instructions
Aluminum
YES
Some colored anodized
Some darkening or spotting possible. Remove by
aluminum can fade.
scouring with soap-filled steel wool pads.
China/
YES
Antique, metal-trimmed,
If in doubt, check with the manufacturer. Or test wash
Stoneware
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.
Crystal
YES
Antique, metal-trimmed or
Load securely to prevent movement.
hand-painted patterns fade.
Select CHINA-CRYSTAL cycle.
Gold leaf will discolor.
Check your manufacturer’s instructions for your crystal.
NO
Do not wash in dishwasher. Damage to dishwasher
items—such
and discoloration or staining of dishwasher may result.
as electronic
air cleaner
filters, furnace
filters, paint
brushes, etc.
Glass
YES
Milk Glass may yellow.
Iron
NO
Iron
rust.
Pewter
NO
Pewter tarnishes.
Plastics
YES
If it doesn’t say DISHWASHER SAFE, test one piece in
the top rack before
an entire set.
Stainless steel
YES
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods
can stain if
on.
Sterling Silver
YES
Don’t put in same silverware
Rinse if not washing immediately. Salty or acid foods can
and Silver plate
basket with stainless steel.
stain if
on. Dry detergent can cause difficult-to-remove
Contact between metals can
black spots. Place in back section of silverware basket to
damage silver.
avoid exposure to detergent from the detergent cup.
Don’t wash copper utensils in
the same load. Silver may get a
brown film.
Adhesive used to attach some
hollow-handle knives can loosen.
Non-stick
YES
After washing, wipe the non-stick coating area with
coatings
vegetable oil to keep it from losing its non-stick quality.
Tin
NO
Tin can rust.
Wood
NO
Wood can warp, crack or lose
its 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 lessens cleaning power.
water calms. Then open the door.
So try to load everything at the
Add dishes any time during the
beginning.
3. Add dishes you’ve forgotten.
RINSE & HOLD cycle. With other
wash cycles, you can add dishes at
Here’s how to add a forgotten dish:
4. Close the door and push the
latch to the far right. When the
any time BEFORE the WASHING
1. Push the door latch to the left.
door is locked, washing will
signal light goes off.
Washing
stop.
continue.
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