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Appliance Tip of the Week...
Things we try not putting into our dishwasher:
- 
Keep these items out of dishwasher and hand wash them instead:
Graters and Sieves - Any kitchen tool with sharp edges should not be placed in the dishwasher. Graters and sieves can nick the plastic coating on the racks and rust will begin to form, and if you crowd items with small holes into the dishwasher, it is nearly impossible for the water stream to remove all of the food particles. Hand wash for best results.
Cast iron - Washing your skillet in the dishwasher can not only cause it to rust, it will also remove it's precious seasoning that prevents food from sticking.
Enameled cast iron - Your dutch oven should stay away from the dishwasher too. While it won't get ruined after a cycle or two, over time, the dishwasher can wear away at the enamel coating—it's best to just avoid it completely.
Wooden (and bamboo) everything - Keep those cutting boards, spoons, and big salad bowls out of the dishwasher. The hot, wet environment of a cycle can be extremely damaging.
Good Knives - It's fine to throw your butter knives in there, but keep that chef's knife or any other good quality knives out of the silverware basket. The dishwasher can dull those knives faster than hand washing can.
Anything insulated - Want that travel mug to keep your coffee hot? Wash it by hand. The vacuum seal between the inner and outer shell can break and the space can even fill with water when it's is washed in the dishwasher.
Non-stick pots and pans - Similar to enameled cast iron, the coating on non-stick pots and pans can get worn down in the dishwasher. If you want your eggs to keep sliding right out of the skillet, hand wash it.
Some Plastics - If the plastic container specifically says that it can go in the dishwasher, you're fine. However, if you're not sure, you're better off washing it by hand as certain plastic has the ability to melt from the cycle's heat and/or leach chemicals like BPA. Also note that dishwasher-safe plastic should be washed in the top rack, which is the furthest away from the heating element.
Crystal and China - This should be obvious, but crystal and china is far too delicate to just be tossed in the dishwasher. Both have the potential to not only loose their glimmer, but to possibly chip and break.
Anything gold-plated - Leave anything that has a gold trim or gold coating in the sink as the dishwasher can eat away at it.
Copper - If you own anything made of copper, strictly hand wash it—dishwasher detergent is more powerful than regular dish soap and can dis-colour it.
Silpats - The non-stick reusable baking mats can actually break down over time with repeated dish washing.
Aluminum foil containers - Since the containers are lightweight, they can bump around in the machine and leave black marks on the other items in there.
A clogged dishwasher is not a very happy dishwasher
When food, paper, plastic and other scraps build up, they create clogs and other plumbing problems. These problems will also prevent your dish-washing appliance from draining properly. Nobody wants the mess, smell, and inconvenience that comes with that.
Understanding why dishwashers clog is the first step toward keeping them from clogging in the first place. Here are the most common reasons why your dishwasher might clog, and how you can prevent or fix them.
Scrap off your plates into the garbage before you throw them into your dishwasher. Dishwashers are for cleaning off germs and grease, not removing caked-on food chunks.
Throw milk bag corners (Canada), bread tie clips, jar labels, kernels of popcorn into the garbage so they don't end up in your dishwasher!
When mineral sediment builds up inside appliances like your dishwasher, they slow everything down. The machine itself operates less effectively, and clogs become much more prevalent. Use a dishwasher cleaner.
Your dishwasher has a drain inside of it for water to move through. A filter basket or plate protects the drain from food chunks or over things that could clog it.
The more garbage you let into your dishwasher, the more quickly the filter basket fills up. Manually removing this basket and cleaning it regularly will seriously help prevent clogs.
How to Clean a Common Dishwasher Filter
Remove the bottom rack of the dishwasher and locate the filter—a cylindrical tube that twist-locks into place—on the floor of the unit. Some models also have a secondary lower, flat filter, found below the cylindrical one. This filter has a hole in the middle through which the cylindrical one is installed, and it does not lock in place. Both need to be removed for cleaning.
Remove the upper, cylindrical filter first by twisting it to unlock it. In most models, the filter twists counter-clockwise, but there should be arrows indicating the correct direction. Once unlocked, pull up gently to remove the filter. Then simply lift out the lower filter if there is one.
Hand-wash the filter(s) in warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly under running water. For stubborn pieces of food, scrub the filter very gently with a sponge or old toothbrush. Next, examine the area where the filters are installed for errant food particles, using a damp towel to wipe the area clean if necessary.
Place the flat filter back in place, if there is one, then insert the cylindrical filter next, twist it clockwise (most commonly), locking it securely back in place.
Related Links
Things we try not putting into our dishwasher:
- Keep these items out of dishwasher and hand wash them instead:
Graters and Sieves - Any kitchen tool with sharp edges should not be placed in the dishwasher. Graters and sieves can nick the plastic coating on the racks and rust will begin to form, and if you crowd items with small holes into the dishwasher, it is nearly impossible for the water stream to remove all of the food particles. Hand wash for best results.
Cast iron - Washing your skillet in the dishwasher can not only cause it to rust, it will also remove it's precious seasoning that prevents food from sticking.
Enameled cast iron - Your dutch oven should stay away from the dishwasher too. While it won't get ruined after a cycle or two, over time, the dishwasher can wear away at the enamel coating—it's best to just avoid it completely.
Wooden (and bamboo) everything - Keep those cutting boards, spoons, and big salad bowls out of the dishwasher. The hot, wet environment of a cycle can be extremely damaging.
Good Knives - It's fine to throw your butter knives in there, but keep that chef's knife or any other good quality knives out of the silverware basket. The dishwasher can dull those knives faster than hand washing can.
Anything insulated - Want that travel mug to keep your coffee hot? Wash it by hand. The vacuum seal between the inner and outer shell can break and the space can even fill with water when it's is washed in the dishwasher.
Non-stick pots and pans - Similar to enameled cast iron, the coating on non-stick pots and pans can get worn down in the dishwasher. If you want your eggs to keep sliding right out of the skillet, hand wash it.
Some Plastics - If the plastic container specifically says that it can go in the dishwasher, you're fine. However, if you're not sure, you're better off washing it by hand as certain plastic has the ability to melt from the cycle's heat and/or leach chemicals like BPA. Also note that dishwasher-safe plastic should be washed in the top rack, which is the furthest away from the heating element.
Crystal and China - This should be obvious, but crystal and china is far too delicate to just be tossed in the dishwasher. Both have the potential to not only loose their glimmer, but to possibly chip and break.
Anything gold-plated - Leave anything that has a gold trim or gold coating in the sink as the dishwasher can eat away at it.
Copper - If you own anything made of copper, strictly hand wash it—dishwasher detergent is more powerful than regular dish soap and can dis-colour it.
Silpats - The non-stick reusable baking mats can actually break down over time with repeated dish washing.
Aluminum foil containers - Since the containers are lightweight, they can bump around in the machine and leave black marks on the other items in there.
A clogged dishwasher is not a very happy dishwasher
When food, paper, plastic and other scraps build up, they create clogs and other plumbing problems. These problems will also prevent your dish-washing appliance from draining properly. Nobody wants the mess, smell, and inconvenience that comes with that.
Understanding why dishwashers clog is the first step toward keeping them from clogging in the first place. Here are the most common reasons why your dishwasher might clog, and how you can prevent or fix them.
Scrap off your plates into the garbage before you throw them into your dishwasher. Dishwashers are for cleaning off germs and grease, not removing caked-on food chunks.
Throw milk bag corners (Canada), bread tie clips, jar labels, kernels of popcorn into the garbage so they don't end up in your dishwasher!
When mineral sediment builds up inside appliances like your dishwasher, they slow everything down. The machine itself operates less effectively, and clogs become much more prevalent. Use a dishwasher cleaner.
Your dishwasher has a drain inside of it for water to move through. A filter basket or plate protects the drain from food chunks or over things that could clog it.
The more garbage you let into your dishwasher, the more quickly the filter basket fills up. Manually removing this basket and cleaning it regularly will seriously help prevent clogs.
How to Clean a Common Dishwasher Filter
Remove the bottom rack of the dishwasher and locate the filter—a cylindrical tube that twist-locks into place—on the floor of the unit. Some models also have a secondary lower, flat filter, found below the cylindrical one. This filter has a hole in the middle through which the cylindrical one is installed, and it does not lock in place. Both need to be removed for cleaning.
Remove the upper, cylindrical filter first by twisting it to unlock it. In most models, the filter twists counter-clockwise, but there should be arrows indicating the correct direction. Once unlocked, pull up gently to remove the filter. Then simply lift out the lower filter if there is one.
Hand-wash the filter(s) in warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly under running water. For stubborn pieces of food, scrub the filter very gently with a sponge or old toothbrush. Next, examine the area where the filters are installed for errant food particles, using a damp towel to wipe the area clean if necessary.
Place the flat filter back in place, if there is one, then insert the cylindrical filter next, twist it clockwise (most commonly), locking it securely back in place.
Related Links
- 10 Pack Dishwasher Safe Reusable Food Storage Bags (5 Reusable Sandwich Bags, 3 Reusable Snack Bags, 2 Freezer Gallon Bags), Extra Thick Leak proof Silicone Free Plastic Bags
- Stainless Steel Cookie Sheet Baking Sheet Pans Set For Cooking Large Big Half Dishwasher Safe Non Toxic Professional Bakeware No Rust
- Wheat Straw Dinnerware Sets (12pcs) Multi Colour-Unbreakable Microwave Safe-Lightweight Bowls, Cups, Plates Set-Reusable, Dishwasher Safe, Eco Friendly, Wheat Straw Bowls, Wheat Straw Plates