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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:
Evaka · 21/04/2025 15:36

One of the many, many things I'd do but not in front of guests. Lots of people have zero understanding of bacteria/germs.

XenoBitch · 21/04/2025 15:36

I can't get worked up about this.

Surgical instruments get reused between people too.

As long as everything is cleaned, then what is the problem?

Delatron · 21/04/2025 15:36

Ooh we do this. Common sense tells you that any germs will be killed in the dishwasher.

However, I do remember before getting a dog a friend wanted to use one of my bowls for her dogs water and I found that disgusting! So things do change a lot when you get dogs.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 21/04/2025 15:36

Doesn't bother me at all but then I'm not particularly worried about germs.

I probably wouldn't allow my dog to do it in front of guests though.

IWillAlwaysBeinaClubWithYouin1973 · 21/04/2025 15:36

I've done this for years - albeit I'd say occasionally not every single time - I think other people might find it off putting, I can understand that. Maybe just not do it front of guests!

Keirawr · 21/04/2025 15:35

DoYouReally · 21/04/2025 15:34

I'm 100% with your DIL and think it's absolutely disgusting.

It turns my stomach completely.

I would never eat in your house again as long as I lived.

I don't care about any arguments re temperatures etc. It's completely stomach churning.

I can't be around people who don't have boundaries with animals.

Same people who have their dogs get into their beds. Gross doesn’t even begin to cover it.

fluffiphlox · 21/04/2025 15:35

Revolting.

ZepherinDrouhin · 21/04/2025 15:35

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 21/04/2025 15:26

I didn't think about it.

Dog waits in kitchen for the plates & I did what I normally do, scaped the fatty stuff off & put the plates down for her to lick clean. I thought as long as washed at a high temp there would be no problem. Ironically enough she was encouraging my dog to 'kiss' her children on the face which I said she had been trained not to do as we all know how she cleans her 'Bits'.

If you know how your dog cleans her bits then why are you letting her lick your crockery?

Keirawr · 21/04/2025 15:34

Threads like these are always a good reminder that you shouldn’t eat from other people’s houses. You have no idea how they live or their hygiene standards.

DoYouReally · 21/04/2025 15:34

I'm 100% with your DIL and think it's absolutely disgusting.

It turns my stomach completely.

I would never eat in your house again as long as I lived.

I don't care about any arguments re temperatures etc. It's completely stomach churning.

I can't be around people who don't have boundaries with animals.

Springhassprungxx · 21/04/2025 15:33

Rank!!!

Original poster
Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 21/04/2025 15:33

Darkclothes · 21/04/2025 15:28

I'd be more concerned that your plate/gravy etc has onions, garlic and other things poisonous for dogs on it!!!

If you let you dog do this, then at least have the common sense to not subject guests to seeing you do it!

I scrape residue off the plates - not onion or other stuff left, just leave what's left for dog.

OP posts:
Tooty78 · 21/04/2025 15:33

Like a plan said, this is stomach churning. Some people's standards.

TheHerboriste · 21/04/2025 15:33

I loved my dogs; they slept in my bed and of course had special bowls to lick but I do feel a bit queasy at the thought of letting them lick pans and dishes. At least, I would not do that in front of guests.

FreebieWallopFridge · 21/04/2025 15:33

That is absolutely disgusting

EJ2 · 21/04/2025 15:33

SocksShmocks · 21/04/2025 15:23

We put our cat’s plates and bowls in the dishwasher. Is everyone else handwashing?? Who could be bothered. (We’re rarely ill)

I also put the dog bowls in the dishwasher.. I usually swill them out first under the tap, but figured it all gets cleaned in the dishwasher so no harm done?

Now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t let guests know!

cyclequestion · 21/04/2025 15:30

Disgusting 🤮

MemorableTrenchcoat · 21/04/2025 15:29

Some of these responses! You’d think the dog was shitting on the plate, and OP put the whole lot in the machine.

SoSoLong · 21/04/2025 15:29

I'm fairly sure it is safe, however the irrational part of my brain tells me it's yuck and no, I wouldn't eat in your house again.

steff13 · 21/04/2025 15:28

My dishwasher gets hot enough to kill any residual dog mouth germs left on the dishes.

Darkclothes · 21/04/2025 15:28

I'd be more concerned that your plate/gravy etc has onions, garlic and other things poisonous for dogs on it!!!

If you let you dog do this, then at least have the common sense to not subject guests to seeing you do it!

GreenCandleWax · 21/04/2025 15:27

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?

That is totally disgusting. What have you been thinking OP that your common sense has got so scrambled by having a dog? I agree 100% with your Dil. This has turned my stomach.

Original poster
Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 21/04/2025 15:26

I didn't think about it.

Dog waits in kitchen for the plates & I did what I normally do, scaped the fatty stuff off & put the plates down for her to lick clean. I thought as long as washed at a high temp there would be no problem. Ironically enough she was encouraging my dog to 'kiss' her children on the face which I said she had been trained not to do as we all know how she cleans her 'Bits'.

OP posts:
YessandNno · 21/04/2025 15:26

Ugh, that's pretty disgusting tbf.

And what dishwasher washes at 90°? Certainly none that I know of. The majority of dishwashers have the default set to "eco" which is usually either 45° or 50°.

I would be very unkeen to eat from your plates, personally. However, I wouldn't have flounced like your DIL did. But I would probably try to avoid eating at your house from then on.

Eachpeachpearprune · 21/04/2025 15:24

My dog used to practically climb in the dishwasher whilst I was loading it to lick the plates before I put it on 🙈😄