A dishwasher can be used for a lot of things, from glass to metal. Some items shouldn’t be placed in them. These include the following:
Wood, bronze, brass, delicate China, nonstick pans, large knives, and wine glasses. The hot water could break them or remove details. It can stain the other items in your dishwasher as well. For these reasons, they shouldn’t be in your machine. You will have to wash these by hand. This machine should only be used for dishes, don’t wash clothes or books in it as this will damage them as well.
If you have a party or a lot of dishes, it is a great idea to sort items beforehand so that it is easier to know where things have to go. This also makes sure that you don’t accidentally place forbidden items in the machine. A wooden spoon can be quite small and slip in between other items if you are not careful.
Let’s take a look at some common electrical kitchen items to see if they are dishwasher-safe. This makes sure that they won’t break in the dishwasher.
Can you put blenders in the dishwasher?
Starting the day with a smoothie can be a lot of fun. The blender can be messy though. You can be tempted to place it in the dishwasher to be done with it.
In some instances, you can put the lid of the blender or parts of it in the dishwasher. If this is the case, these parts generally have a label that indicates that they can be placed in the dishwasher.
Dishwashers get quite hot and some plastics can’t handle this heat. Look up the model number of your blender to make sure that yours can deal with these temperatures.
If they can’t you will get a deformed plastic piece back. While you often can get replacement parts on the website of the manufacturer, it is better to avoid this whole ordeal altogether.
The easiest way to clean this plastic part is to soak it in lukewarm water and use a soft brush to clean it. Check the manual of your device to see what the manufacturer recommends.
You shouldn’t place the part with the electrical wire in the dishwasher! This part is often not waterproof and will break. For this reason, you can’t place the whole blender in the dishwasher.
Can you put a toaster in the dishwasher?
Toasters are great if you want to get hot bread for breakfast. Nothing more delicious than hot bread and some butter. The toaster can get quite dirty though and you might wonder how to clean it.
No, toasters can’t be placed in the dishwasher. They are generally not waterproof and will break if you place them in the dishwasher. The electronic components inside your toaster will break and it will be dangerous to plug it back in.
For this reason, it is important that you don’t place your toaster in your dishwasher.
Wait until the toaster has cooled down and use a small brush and some water to get it cleaned. You can also turn it upside down to remove some bread crumbs.
Toasters are quite fragile and you shouldn’t use harsh soaps on them. You also can’t let it soak in water as it will break the electrical components. Check the manual of your toaster to see how you should clean it.
Can you put electric toothbrushes in the dishwasher?
Electric toothbrushes are very convenient. After a while, you can get some deposits on them and they might need some cleaning. You might wonder if these electric toothbrushes can be washed in your dishwasher.
No, you can’t place an electric toothbrush in the dishwasher. While they are waterproof, they might not withstand heat. The battery inside the toothbrush can break and this could result in a dangerous situation. This is generally also indicated on the manual of your toothbrush.
Just let your toothbrush soak in lukewarm water. You can use a small brush to remove the deposits on the brush afterward. Let it air dry or use a small towel to dry the toothbrush. Don’t forget to use new brushes every few months!
You should clean your electric toothbrush every week as they can get quite dirty over time. Unfortunately, you can’t wash them in a dishwasher.
Most electric toothbrushes come with a travel case. This can keep your toothbrush clean while you are traveling.
Can you put an electric kettle in the dishwasher?
Electric kettles are essential in a kitchen. They can heat up the water in no time. This is great if you want to make some tea.
Most electrical kettles can’t be washed in the dishwasher though. The outer parts are generally not waterproof. Some models might be able to deal with the heat of a dishwasher but it will be indicated on them. You can also check the manual of your electric kettle to make sure that you can place it in the dishwasher.
Cheaper electric kettles also use weaker plastics that can melt in the dishwasher. They are not able to withstand the heat that a dishwasher uses to clean items.
Electric kettles are quite expensive and it is a shame to break them. If you take proper care of them, they can last for several years.
To conclude, we can say that it is often better to be safe than sorry with electronic items. Most of them are not dishwasher-proof. It can be even dangerous to place some of them in the dishwasher as the batteries can break. You can check the manual of your device. Only if the manufacturer mentions that you can place the item in the dishwasher, it is OK to do so.
Can you put a mechanical keyboard in the dishwasher?
Mechanical keyboards are a lot of fun to type with. After a while, they might get dirty and you might be curious if you can place them in the dishwasher.
No, you can’t place your mechanical keyboard in the dishwasher. The electronics will break. Furthermore, the keys might deform as they are generally made out of plastic or wood.
If they are made out of some metal, such as stainless steel you might consider placing only the keys in the dishwasher but there might be some damage. The paint of the letters might get damaged or scratched.
You can remove the keyboard caps and place these in water in most instances but check the manual of your keyboard to be sure that this is allowed. Don’t make the water too hot as plastic can’t handle this. Let the keycaps air dry and reattach them once they are dry.
This is more work than placing them in the dishwasher but guarantees that your mechanical keyboard won’t break down.
Can you put your phone case such as Otterbox in the dishwasher?
You might have a phone case with a cool print that got dirty after a few months of use. Now you are thinking about placing it in the dishwasher. Can you do this though?
It depends on the material that the phone case is made out of. In most instances, it can be placed in the dishwasher. Plastics, for example, will deform as they can’t withstand the heat. Fabrics can discolor and fade in a dishwasher. If you have a print on your phone case, it might get washed off. A coating can also get removed due to the heat.
Phone cases should often just be hand washed. Fill the sink with tepid water and add some soap. You can then let it air dry.
You can also use a soft brush to clean them.
In some instances, it is best to just replace your phone case. It is used every day and can break after a while. Especially some fabrics can be quite hard to clean. They also might start to smell after a while as the fabrics absorb a lot of liquids.
In most instances, they will mention that you can’t do this as dishwashers use a lot of heat to clean items. This can clean the plastics or electrical components.
Can you put your Apple watch band in the dishwasher?
After a while, your Apple watch band might look quite dirty. You want to find a quick fix and are thinking about the dishwasher.
This might not be a good idea though as the soap can discolor the band. Dishwasher soap can be quite strong and is intended for dishes and not for plastics or fabric. For this reason, it is not a good plan to place the Apple watch band in the dishwasher.
Just handwash it with some soap and let it sit for 15 minutes. Once this is done, you can air dry it. Apple watch bands come in different materials so check what your manufacturer of yours recommends.
Fabrics are quite fragile and you have to handle them with care. Plastics are stronger and are therefore generally easier to clean.
We have discussed if toys are dishwasher safe here.
