First dishwasher, need advice please!!

[verwon]

I have noticed some items are marked "top rack" dishwasher safe, why? and what is the difference??

Also since I never had one before and therefore never worried about if something was safe in a dishwasher or not, how can I tell? I don't want to have to buy a bunch of new dishes and utensils just to use the washer!!

I have T-fal pans, cast iron and aluminum pans, Pfaltzgraff and Corelle dishes, Pfaltzgraff and stainless steel utensils, some plastic utensils for use in teflon pans, wood and plastic handled knives and then of course some of those dollar store plates and bowls.

Any ideas or advice?


P.S. andywon hates plastic dishes so except for tomwon's cups and bowls we have very few plastics.

[ghostie79]

cast iron is not dishwasher safe and i *think* the reason some things are top shelf only is because the heating element is in the bottom of the dishwasher which can cause problems with some things.
hth a little bit...and congrats on your 1st dishwasher!

[Shainie]

As a rule, anything plastic I keep on the top rack. They can melt or warp on the bottom. (An exception is plastic untensils - hard plastic is okay on the bottom).

For soap, Electrasol tablets are awesome! I'd never go back to liquid or powder. They really get the dishes clean and leave them without spots.

Turn your spoons handle down when you put them in. Otherwise waterstays on them and leaves a mark.

Other than the cast iron, everything else sounds dishwasher safe.

[ghostie79]

WHAT YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR DISHWASHER

Glassware
Most ordinary glass and ovenware such as Pyrex are suitable for machine dishwashing. Lead crystal should not be washed in your dishwasher (except that which carries a 'dishwasher safe' label).

Tableware
Most everyday crockery is dishwasher safe. Fine bone china usually has the decoration under the glaze and should be safe in your dishwasher. However, if you are in any doubt about your crockery, please check with the manufacturer. Antique or hand painted china should be washed by hand.

Cutlery
Stainless steel cutlery and silver cutlery are generally suitable for machine washing. The following precautions should be taken: rinse off acidic foods or salt prior to loading, take cutlery out immediately after the cycle to avoid it being left in a humid atmosphere, this prevents corrosion. Do not mix stainless steel and silver cutlery in the same basket. Items with wooden or bone handles are not suitable for dishwashers.

Plastics
Only plastic items which are guaranteed 'dishwasher safe' by the manufacturers should be washed in dishwashers. Do not place on the lower rack as they may be affected by the heat from the element during the drying cycle.

Saucepans
Stainless steel pans are excellent for machine dishwashing. Aluminium can be washed in the machine, but may discolour during the rinse cycle. If this happens, remove the pan before the final rinse. Cast iron pans and pans with wooden handles should be washed by hand.

[eldo]

Originally Posted by Shainie

For soap, Electrasol tablets are awesome! I'd never go back to liquid or powder. They really get the dishes clean and leave them without spots.

Shainie, good for you. I tried these last year. I was looking forward to switching to them since there's no measuring or pouring.

I tried them and it left a gritty coating on everything. I called the consumer information line and they said I did everything correctly but that sometimes they aren't compatible with the hardness of your water.

So unfortunately I went back to Cascade liquid, which is a great product, but it's hard to get the last bit out of the bottle.

[eldo]

Congrats on your new dishwasher verwon! Dishwashers are great when not in use, to hide dishes out of the way instead of feeling like you always have to see them in the sink!

Originally Posted by ghostie79

WHAT YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR DISHWASHER

More items to add to the list (from Maytag):

* Baby toys, bottles and pacifiers (special baskets that keep small items safe are available at many stores or included with some dishwashers)
* Cutting boards (not wood)
* Baseball caps (look for plastic baskets that maintain the cap’s shape — available at many stores)
* Golf balls
* Vases
* Dish scrubbers/scratch pads
* Dish drainers
* Sink/bath mats
* Combs
* Toothbrushes
* Sponges
* Light fixtures
* Cans/bottles to recycle

...and items NOT to be put in the dishwasher:

* Cast-iron pans (seasoning will be removed and iron will rust)
* Antique or hand-painted china
* Gold-plated flatware
* Milkglass (may yellow with repeated dishwashing)
* Disposable plastics/plastics NOT labeled “dishwasher safe”
* Antique or very lightweight crystal
* Pewter
* Hollow-handle knives (handles may be attached with adhesives that will loosen if dishwasher-washed)
* Furnace filters
* Wooden items (may warp or crack)
* Tin (may rust)

[cata5]

Originally Posted by eldo

Shainie, good for you. I tried these last year. I was looking forward to switching to them since there's no measuring or pouring.

I tried them and it left a gritty coating on everything. I called the consumer information line and they said I did everything correctly but that sometimes they aren't compatible with the hardness of your water.

So unfortunately I went back to Cascade liquid, which is a great product, but it's hard to get the last bit out of the bottle.

I am in the middle of a dishwasher disaster! LOL I used Electrasol for a long time...first powder and then the tablets. It seemed pricey to me so I started looking around and buying sale items or coupon items to try some other brands. I got the cloudy glasses and started using vinegar which helped. I recently started getting the white residue on the dishes. UGH! I have tried different brands now including the gel which seems pretty good and yesterday I bought the Electrasol tabs again. My dishwasher could be on the fritz I suppose. The worst dishwasher detergent was the Target brand that I got for .37/huge box. That is when I started using some vinegar towards the end and that worked fine, but made it a hassle. I run our dishwasher almost twice a day and this has become a PITA for me. Oh yeah...the kids unload the dish washer so I am finding icky cloudy glasses in the cabinet! GRRR Lately it seems that I have to scan the dishes before using...Well, maybe the Electrasol will be the answer.

[GR8GIRLS]

I, too, love the Electrosol tabs. They get everything I have clean!

[Shainie]

Originally Posted by eldo

I tried them and it left a gritty coating on everything.

That's horrible! I supposed they couldn't dissolve correctly.

You could always try the new gel packs though if you wanted to try something new. Still no measuring, work as well, and they're gel, so they wouldn't leave grit behind.

[Shainie]

Another piece of advice - don't let your glasses touch eachother. I've had a couple bang eachother and break in the dishwasher. Live and learn!

[sblme28]

good for you! i dont have a dishwasher in my new apartment and boy oh boy do i miss it!

[verwon]

Thank you all for the advice. Much appreciated and now I know what can and can't go in there.

As to the detergent, I am using electrosol, I bought both the tabs and the gel packs since last Sunday there were BOGO coupons in the inserts. I have found they both work equally well with my normal dishes so far, like soup bowls, coffee mugs and such.

I did notice really bad waterspotting on my T-Fal pans when andywon put them in. How do I prevent that? Does JetDry really work?

I should also say this one has the heated drying cycle so nothing rusts. Even though it is a smaller portable, my darling andywon likes to try to get me all the bells and whistles to save as much strain on my back as he can.

[doglover22]

You should not put your good knifes in the dishwasher either. I'm talking about knifes like the kind you use for food prep not thinks like steak knifes or butter knifes. The detergent along with possible bumping against other things in the washer or the racks can dull the edges.

[kat]

You shouldn't put T-Fal in the dishwasher as it can void the warranty and make things stick to it. Actually, any really good cookwear & knives should be washed and dried by hand.

Also, you might notices little black lines on your Corelle if you wash it in the dishwasher and use powder instead of gel detergents. These are actually minute scratches - you'll notice it on your glasses as well.

JetDry does work - Cascade makes one that's usually a bit cheaper and I noticed worked better.