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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

How strict are you about what does and doesn't go in the dishwasher?

62 replies

hippohippohippo · 30/12/2021 22:18

For instance - miscellaneous toys and plastic items that you don't know are BPA free / dishwasher safe.

May have flipped out at DH for putting garden pegs in the dishwasher for the 1,000th time in spite of asking him not to. They are cheap, nasty plastic things and definitely not BPA free. MIL now thinks we need to ditch the baby bottles that were washed in the dishwasher in the same load though, in case the chemicals from the pegs have leached onto it?!

I will probably just rewash them and hope DH finally listens, but got me wondering, how strict are you about what does/ doesn't go in? Any bizarre things you or family members wash in the dishwasher, or are you strictly "dishwasher safe symbol only"?

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 30/12/2021 22:29

Why is he putting garden pegs in the dishwasher?

We don't put plastics in our dishwasher as they would fly around. We also don't dishwash pans, sharp knives, wooden chopping boards or wine glasses.

BackBackBack · 30/12/2021 22:36

Everything goes in the dishwasher. I loathe washing up, so if things don't survive the dishwasher then they don't stay in my house!

The only exception to this are two lovely vintage gin glasses which are very fragile. They are the only things I will wash by hand.

pinkcattydude · 30/12/2021 22:41

Everything but the wedding flutes including the the ridiculous draining rack thing and the extractor Hood thingies

hippohippohippo · 30/12/2021 22:43

@RampantIvy

Why is he putting garden pegs in the dishwasher?

We don't put plastics in our dishwasher as they would fly around. We also don't dishwash pans, sharp knives, wooden chopping boards or wine glasses.

He uses them for all sorts, I lose track (and despair)... usually for half eaten bags of crisps, therefore he suddenly considers them kitchen items.

I have a little container in our dishwasher top shelf for small items and love it (this is where things like baby bottle teats and dummies go... and sadly also garden pegs!).

OP posts:
stealthninjamum · 30/12/2021 22:44

I do quite a lot of washing up. Nice glasses and mugs, the food preparation knives. Often I wash up pans if they take up too much space in the dishwasher.

I would never put in anything other than table ware, cutlery or pans. It’s weird to put pegs in. In fact I have never felt the need to clean my pegs.

stealthninjamum · 30/12/2021 22:45

Cross post I see why he washes up pegs. Why not buy the special food pegs from Lakeland? I have a load of those.

Ikeameatballs · 30/12/2021 22:47

I’d put anything that fits in the dishwasher.

DP doesn’t like his nice knives or glasses going in.

I think your reaction is pretty extreme.

MushroomHunter · 30/12/2021 22:49

I put everything in to the dishwasher even the ornaments from the kitchen, the chopping board. If it fits it goes in!

makingmiracles · 30/12/2021 22:53

Most things here, but yes, why not get the proper food clips for him and get rid of his pegs, they sell them in ikea and I’ve seen them in places like homebargains.
When I saw your thread title I thought it would be relating to something like a potty-ive heard people putting those in a dishwasher, not something I could do! The grossest things I suppose that’s ever been in mine is the cat bowls when we had a cat.

Yubaba · 30/12/2021 22:57

I put all sorts in our dishwasher, the cat bowls, dirty vases, the toothbrush holder from the bathroom.
It all comes out clean and it washes at 65°
I only hand wash a crystal whiskey glass of DH and thermos flasks and water bottles.

Ylvamoon · 30/12/2021 22:58

Nothing miscellaneous only your usual tableware, saucepans and the bits from my gas hob rack from oven.

roseblosssom · 30/12/2021 23:12

I put anything that fits in, never even considered BPA though. I also put cat bowls in but in my defence they eat their raw meat and then it's washed at 70 degrees.

SingingWaffleDoggy · 30/12/2021 23:15

I throw nearly everything in. I haven’t the time nor the inclination to hand wash anything I don’t have to. Exceptions being our engraved champagne flutes, thermos flasks and wooden chopping boards. Unless my DH isn’t home, then the chopping boards go in too.
Cross contamination of BPA has never crossed my mind!

CrackersDontMatter · 30/12/2021 23:16

If it fits, it goes in. My wine glasses don't fit and I have a couple of special mugs that can't but other than that, everything.

Cleebope2 · 30/12/2021 23:24

OMG had no idea people put things like toys and pegs in the dishwasher. I don't even put the cat bowls in as it would give me the ick. It only takes a second to wash those things by hand. Maybe I am missing a trick here.

Nsky · 30/12/2021 23:25

Most stuff goes in, including wooden spoons

LittleBearPad · 30/12/2021 23:26

What do you think is actually going to happen?

Hairyfriend · 30/12/2021 23:31

I use pegs to close crisp packets, but as they don't touch any food- never considered they need to be washed, let alone in the dishwasher!

MIL had a lovely, wooden chopping board I put into the dishwasher once. Turned out it wasn't solid wood! It came out in multiple strips as the heat melted the glue that stuck it all together! Blush

Ohisitreally · 30/12/2021 23:32

Absolutely everything in our house is shoved in dishwasher..dog bowls included!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 30/12/2021 23:35

Everything except pots and pans, and some very fancy hand painted wine glasses. Cat bowls go in without a thought.

Woeismethischristmas · 30/12/2021 23:41

I’m an everything goes in person. Pots pans, sharp knives chopping boards wine glasses. Bathroom soap dish, grubby toys of the hard plastic variety. I have ruined the odd bamboo dish and wooden chopping board but If it can’t survive the dishwasher I don’t want it.

hippohippohippo · 30/12/2021 23:42

@LittleBearPad

What do you think is actually going to happen?
I don't think the world will end (and won't be throwing the rest of the load away like MIL wants) but would personally prefer to avoid nasty chemicals if I have an easy choice!

I have just asked some friends who say they put all baby hard toys in there regardless of whether it says dishwasherable (and equally all baby soft toys in the washing machine regardless).

Good idea on the pegs/ food clips for him!

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 30/12/2021 23:52

If some clothes pegs are only used to seal bags why do they need washing?

I'm too precious about my nice pans to risk putting them in the dishwasher. Everyone I know who dishwashes their pans have wrecked them.

Luredbyapomegranate · 31/12/2021 00:28

Everything goes in - have never thought about it, I think you are worrying too much

KaptainKaveman · 31/12/2021 00:32

It cleans the black metal hob grids quite well, also the draining rack. I don't put any glasses or wood in there though