Dishwasher safe -- "Top Rack Only"

[Anonymous]

Just bought some rubber-coated spoons and a few plates and bowls in preparation for introducing baby to solids. The spoons and a set of Gerber bowls with lids say dishwasher safe but "top rack only". Why? What will happen if I put the spoons in the utensil thingy on the bottom rack as opposed to spending another $20 on a contraption to hold baby stuff on the top rack?

[Anonymous]

I think its a heat thing - anything that is plastic (tupperware, Nalgene bottles) should really only be on the top rack. I think the plastic will warp.

[Anonymous]

PP exactly - they will melt and warp if you put them in the bottom because it is hotter.

[Anonymous]

We put stuff wherever it will fit in the dishwasher and have never had a problem.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine as long as you have some kind of basket that will hold the stuff in. Some dishwashers have silverware baskets that do this. Otherwise things that are lightweight can get pushed out of the basket by the water spray and fall through to the heating element. This happened to us with a plastic bottle part and it smelled awful for days.

That said, we have found it easier to just use the special baskets on the top rack. Ours were like $4 for a set of two (Munchkin brand) and they work fine. The regular silverware basket has only a small area that is covered and it fills up very quickly with pacifiers and bottle parts, and things like nipples do not always get well-cleaned. Now that he's a bit older we've also got sippy cup parts and baby food containers. I find the baskets much easier, although I don't actually use them for the plastic bowls, as those fit into the top rack of our dishwasher without a basket.

[Anonymous]

No need to spend $20 on another contraption. Go to target or get on Amazon and buy an inexpensive one, it works. Munchkin is fine and is under $5.

[Anonymous]

If you don't do the heated dry, you can put anything anywhere.

[Anonymous]

We just wash all of those things by hand.

[Anonymous]

I put baby spoons (possibly the same ones you have) in the normal flatware section with everything else - have never had a problem with the spoons. i also put those take-and-toss plastic spoons in the flatware thing and haven't had issues with those either.

[Anonymous]

The instructions are often too conservative. Try onend see what happens. Just be sure it can't fall through to the heater.

[Anonymous]

Too conservative??!! Exposing plastics to excessive heat causes the breakdown of the molecular resin chains in certain plastics and in turn, chemicals (such as Bisphenol A--BPA) can leach into foods and other surfaces (potentially contaminating all the other dishes stacked up in your dishwasher).

Whether the items are warping or bubbling, is not the issue. It's the amount of toxins that are being released by you putting them to close to heaters in the dishwasher.

[Anonymous]

I've always used the heated dry, but do I really need it? Good question. Thoughts. I do put plastic stuff on the top shelf, though my husband doesn't always!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always used the heated dry, but do I really need it? Good question. Thoughts. I do put plastic stuff on the top shelf, though my husband doesn't always!

I never use heated dry, except sometimes during winter when I figure I could use some warm moist air in the kitchen. I don't notice a big difference-- I usually have to towel some items on the top rack (like indented coffee mugs), but that's often true even with heated dry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too conservative??!! Exposing plastics to excessive heat causes the breakdown of the molecular resin chains in certain plastics and in turn, chemicals (such as Bisphenol A--BPA) can leach into foods and other surfaces (potentially contaminating all the other dishes stacked up in your dishwasher).

Whether the items are warping or bubbling, is not the issue. It's the amount of toxins that are being released by you putting them to close to heaters in the dishwasher.

Agree. It isn't so much the damage to the spoons, but the toxins. And note that if the toxins start to break down, some are aromatic and can be carried during the heated drying cycle to other items in the dishwasher. It isn't a huge amount released at once and may not make you or your family sick, but the toxins may be ingested by you or a family member and be in your system. Some of them do not pass out and can build up and maybe years later, someone will get sick from a toxicity created by repeated exposure to toxins over a long period of time. Think cases like lead poisoning from exposure to lead paints. The heater for the drying cycle is on the bottom of most dishwashers so the bottom rack is hotter than the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too conservative??!! Exposing plastics to excessive heat causes the breakdown of the molecular resin chains in certain plastics and in turn, chemicals (such as Bisphenol A--BPA) can leach into foods and other surfaces (potentially contaminating all the other dishes stacked up in your dishwasher).

Whether the items are warping or bubbling, is not the issue. It's the amount of toxins that are being released by you putting them to close to heaters in the dishwasher.

This thread is over 2 years old. Who are you yelling at?