As a decades-long city dweller recently transplanted upstate, I'm the proud owner of my first dishwasher. My instinct has been to throw everything in its racks, but the practice has left me with cracked cutting boards and broken glass.
A dishwasher's scorching heat and powerful blasts of water are what get most items really clean. On the other hand, those features can warp, shatter and otherwise damage your fragile and porous kitchenware.
Before running the next power cycle, double-check the items you're sticking in the racks. Your favorite chef's knives, frying pans and stemware will thank you.
11 things your dishwasher will destroy
1. Insulated mugs
Insulated mugs can be damaged by the pressure from a dishwasher. The Darling Effect
The high heat and pressure of a dishwasher can damage or break the vacuum seal that makes these insulated vessels effective. Instead, wash them by hand using warm water and soap.
2. Wooden cutting boards
Always air-dry a wood board on its side for at least an hour before storing it. David Watsky/CNET
Wood cutting boards can become damaged after even one cycle through the dishwasher. Hot water can cause even the strongest wood to warp, bend, crack or split. While plastic and stone cutting boards can typically be handled in the dishwasher, wooden slabs should be washed by hand and dried thoroughly on their side.
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