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Original poster

Dig licking plates before going into dishwasher - ick or not

907 replies

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 21/04/2025 15:11

Have have hosted a lovely Easter BH Monday for all 7 GC, 3 step children, partners & children. We had an Easter egg hunt in garden, had breakfast in local farm shop & walked my lovely little dog around, petted animals etc.

For context I need to say that DSS & DIL are both British, but live in USA.

After a roast dinner I put the plates & general pots & pans down for the dog to lick. My DIL lost the plot saying that was so unhygienic I assured her that they would be going into the dishwasher on a high temperature - about 90c so would be sterilised. I always let the dog pre-wash my plates as consider it's going into the dishwasher at high temp to be sterilised so no problem.

DIL saying she will never let her children eat at my house again & gone-taken her DH & DC off in an huff.

DH has had a text from his son apologising but saying what can he do as has to support his wife. I totally get that. But....

My question is - is it OK to let dog lick out the plates etc when they are going into dishwasher at a high temp? WWUD?

OP posts:
Bonniethetiler · 21/04/2025 17:03

Zone2NorthLondon · 21/04/2025 17:01

Dishwasher sanitises eg cleans but does NOT sterilize
Dishwasher Doesn't reach high enough temperature for sterilisation

Just as well. If everything was sterilized we'd all be incredibly sick as there'd be nothing left to keep our immune systems on their toes.

CautiousLurker01 · 21/04/2025 17:02

So our dogs constantly try to lick the plates as we stack the dishwasher. We don’t allow them because, yes it would be bloody grim if they did it in front of guests but mainly because human food is potentially dangerous - ie TOXIC - to dogs. Onion powder in gravy and sauces, for example?

So, no. Absolutely do not allow our dogs to lick plates ever. If they are good, once everyone has left the table and the debris is cleared away, we may do treat training with left over steak/sausage/bacon etc as a reward for not begging.

Bonniethetiler · 21/04/2025 17:02

You have to love Mumsnet...people freaking out because a dog licked a plate which then goes into a hot dishwasher, and yet when it comes to threads about laundry it seems the vast majority of folks are washing full loads of sweaty clothes at under 30'C on a 20 minute cycle.

There is no middle-ground and even less understanding.

Some of you seriously need to start reading up on "targeted hygiene" and why it is needed in conjunction with a balanced lifestyle so as to keep our immune systems working.

Zone2NorthLondon · 21/04/2025 17:01

Dishwasher sanitises eg cleans but does NOT sterilize
Dishwasher Doesn't reach high enough temperature for sterilisation

IridiumSky · 21/04/2025 17:01

investmentquandry · 21/04/2025 16:51

OMG the hypocrisy!

"I couldn't possibly eat off a plate that a dog had licked, before it was washed at 90 degrees, however, I have no problem licking my husband's penis"

OOOOKKKAAAAYYYY.

Ha ha!

But I don’t believe the OP was suggesting other guests should jointly lick all penises present.

At least I don’t think it was that kind of party.

Those parties are only on Thursdays.

Oops! 😀

Kellybonita · 21/04/2025 17:01

Smallmercies · 21/04/2025 17:00

Errm... yes it does. All dogs do.

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Dogs eat absolutely disgusting stuff. I've seen my dog lick other dogs asses. I've seen my dog kill and half eat a dead mouse.

There is no way in he'll I'd let my dog lick a plate that I'm going to eat off.

What you did is disgusting OP

Mothership4two · 21/04/2025 17:01

investmentquandry · 21/04/2025 16:51

OMG the hypocrisy!

"I couldn't possibly eat off a plate that a dog had licked, before it was washed at 90 degrees, however, I have no problem licking my husband's penis"

OOOOKKKAAAAYYYY.

Not after he's used it to clean his and other people's bums, rubbed it in (any old) poo, meat and insects and generally stuck it in some pretty unsavoury places. I have my standards.

XenoBitch · 21/04/2025 17:01

Smallmercies · 21/04/2025 17:00

Errm... yes it does. All dogs do.

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No, my dog does not eat shit. If they do, they tend to have some sort of deficiency that can be treated.
Eating shit is not a normal behaviour.

Namechangean · 21/04/2025 17:01

If you are happy for guests to see this I’d question what other gross habits you have that you hide

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 21/04/2025 17:00

@Happyspendingthedayinthegarden god help them if they ever buy a puppy who will be jumping into the dishwasher ever time the door is opened!!

Smeegall · 21/04/2025 17:00

I hate dogs but I don't see anything wrong with this........

The plates are going in the dishwasher - I'm not sure why they wouldn't be clean afterwards. Id say it helps the dishwasher too...

If I had a dog I'd give them the roast dinner trays after they were cooked to get all the grime off. The only problem is that I hate dogs.

ttcat37 · 21/04/2025 17:00

XenoBitch · 21/04/2025 16:59

My dog does not eat shit. And I know people who love to indulge in a good rim job.

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How do you think your dog cleans his arsehole? It ain’t with Kleenex. Your dog does eat shit.

Smallmercies · 21/04/2025 17:00

XenoBitch · 21/04/2025 16:59

My dog does not eat shit. And I know people who love to indulge in a good rim job.

Show quote history

Errm... yes it does. All dogs do.

Liz1tummypain · 21/04/2025 16:59

I misunderstood what the YABU and YANBU meant but I think allowing a dog to lick plates, knowing that they eat shit and dirt and God knows what else means it's a big nope from me.

constantcycle · 21/04/2025 16:59

UpsideDownChairs · 21/04/2025 16:50

Wouldn't bother me. If none of the cat bowls are clean (or if I've left them out for the chickens to eat the leftovers, and it's raining so I don't want to go out and get them) I just use our little plates, and I use whatever fork comes to hand if they're eating tinned food.

My mum used to have a special cat fork - but I was once giving the cats some cat pate, and on the walk back across to the kitchen to put the fork in the dishwasher, absent-mindedly licked the fork. The stuff tasted fine TBH, so I stopped bothering with special cat-only cutlery figuring it was pointless too, since their food is as good as mine.

Having said that - wasn't it on here I heard about people putting their toilet brush through the dishwasher? And sex toys? I do draw the line there - I realise it sterilises basically, but still, it's the thought - so I'm clearly illogical.

Edited

Just realised we do this with cat bowls as well! He has several and yet still ends up eating off the small plates relatively often. Again, wouldn't have even crossed my mind that it could be a problem, cat germs are no worse than human germs and they all get washed just the same.

XenoBitch · 21/04/2025 16:59

ttcat37 · 21/04/2025 16:58

Well, we don’t lick our arses or eat shit in this house for a start.

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My dog does not eat shit. And I know people who love to indulge in a good rim job.

ScarlettOYara · 21/04/2025 16:59

Bonniethetiler · 21/04/2025 16:57

This must be a US thing as UK domestic dishwashers only tend to have cycles up to 70'C tops.

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Mine only goes up to 60°c. That's not going to sterilize.

Iammatrix · 21/04/2025 16:58

investmentquandry · 21/04/2025 16:56

Op, if the dog licks them really clean, just put them back in the cupboard. No one will ever know. Energy saving tip right there.

For all of you that do allow doggy crockery/utensil licking, this sounds like a brilliant idea!

Kellybonita · 21/04/2025 16:58

I think it's disgusting. I wouldn't want to eat off a plate that a dog has licked.

Why on earth would you let the dog do that?

godmum56 · 21/04/2025 16:58

Reflectionsreflections · 21/04/2025 16:54

Nope! They turn up anyway 🤣🤣 often with treats for the dogs 😎

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oh but those would be welcome

Mounj25 · 21/04/2025 16:58

🤢 that’s grim

LightDrizzle · 21/04/2025 16:58

That would revolt me, even though on hygiene grounds it is largely irrational.

Realistically I know that if I go out to pubs or restaurants I’m breathing in other people’s farts but that doesn’t mean I’d be okay with them bending over and letting rip in the direction of my face.

Zone2NorthLondon · 21/04/2025 16:58

investmentquandry · 21/04/2025 16:51

OMG the hypocrisy!

"I couldn't possibly eat off a plate that a dog had licked, before it was washed at 90 degrees, however, I have no problem licking my husband's penis"

OOOOKKKAAAAYYYY.

You have bigger problems than mn posts

ttcat37 · 21/04/2025 16:58

XenoBitch · 21/04/2025 16:13

So why do you trust it to clean the human spit from cutlery?
Do dishwashers work less effective on pet spittle?

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Well, we don’t lick our arses or eat shit in this house for a start.

UndermyShoeJoe · 21/04/2025 16:57

I just clean the cats bowls with the hose tbh when I’m hosing down the catio. Two jobs one hose.