melamine plates in the dishwasher???

[mckenzie]

I've just bought some new melamine plates and glasses for the children (I'm fed up with 5 year old Thomas the Tank but cant quite trust the youngest yet to not throw plates on the floor) from john Lewis.
Just read the label and it says not suitable for dishwasher!
I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it means that the pattern will just fade, the plates will scratch easier or somehting of it they will actually melt or somehting daft like that.

In other words can i use them in the dishwasher and they just wont last as long or can i really NOT use them in the dishwasher?
Anyone know please?

TIA

I have always dishwashered my melamine plates and bowls. They have lasted so far, about 2 years and still going strong. Top shelf, bottom shelf - wherever I cram them in, in fact.

The note about not microwaving them is more accurate. They get REALLY hot, and the food stays cold...

dont know but always put mine in dishwasher and some Ds has had for nearly 3yrs.

i put mine in but after 3 or 4 years they are looking pretty tatty. but it's a price i'm prepared to pay. but definitely don't microwave them - they can crack pretty easily

mine say yes dishwasher no microwave. not bottom rack on a dw hot wash i think.

Everything goes in the dishwasher here, if it doesn't survive it has no place in my kitchen Seriously tho', my mum has some ancient melamina and i'm pretty sure that has been going in the dishwasher since i was a kid (and that's quite a long time).

thanks very much. they were the answers that i wanted to see