Tracy in Ky Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I've been learning about the dangers of this, and have begun handwashing plastic dishes. Does anyone else handwash plastic instead of running it through the dishwasher? Evidently the high temps plus the harsh detergent cause the plastic to break down and leach chemicals. But then, I still use my automatic coffee maker which runs really hot water through plastic to make coffee :glare: I wonder if my coffee maker is BPA free :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 The only plastics in my kitchen are the lids to my glass storage wear. I do put them in the dishwasher. Oh, I do have plastic cups now for the foster boy but that is it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 The only plastics in my kitchen are the lids to my glass storage wear. I do put them in the dishwasher. Oh, I do have plastic cups now for the foster boy but that is it. I would like to have less in my kitchen. I think it is wonderful that you have so little! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannatheshedevil Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 The only plastics in my kitchen are the lids to my glass storage wear. I do put them in the dishwasher. Oh, I do have plastic cups now for the foster boy but that is it. Same. We have Ikea plastic cups for visiting kids (I know my own does fine with glass, but not so much with his friends), and other than the lids to my glass storage stuff, that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I put them in the dishwasher all the time. However, I am also not one who worries a ton about chemicals in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarleneW Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Everything goes in the dishwasher here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Plastic in the dishwasher doesn't bother me, but I won't heat food in plastic or put hot food in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Plastic in the dishwasher doesn't bother me, but I won't heat food in plastic or put hot food in it. :iagree: Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 If I had a dishwasher there wouldn't be much that did not go in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwenhwyfar Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Yep, although every now and then something comes out warped. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Top rack! And I throw it out when it gets that white scabby lookin' stuff on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I have a Bosch and they don't use a traditional heater to dry the dishes so I'm fine with it. It only gets as hot in there as our hot water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted August 26, 2010 Author Share Posted August 26, 2010 I think it is the temperature of the water, which the dishwasher heats up that does it. I don't use the heat dry on mine either. I know we can't run away from all dangerous chemicals; it is hard sometimes trying to figure out what to do :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I put my plastics on the top rack of the dishwasher only, AND i run my dishwasher on a lower temp. We have Royal Doulton china and i have gone with their recommendations on water temp, washing powder etc. They have specific recommendations so that you do not damage the patterns on the china. So far so good both with the plastics and china :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I do put my plastics in the dishwasher, top rack only, but all of my plastic is BPA-free so I don't think it's a problem (at least that's what I tell myself, anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Everything goes in the dishwasher here. :) :iagree: If I had a dishwasher there wouldn't be much that did not go in it. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Top rack! And I throw it out when it gets that white scabby lookin' stuff on it. Same here. I actually find that it is much more difficult to get grease, odors and stains (especially spaghetti sauce!) out of plastic by handwashing than other materials, but the dishwasher does the trick. I always pre-rinse everything going into the dishwasher, to the point that there is not a single trace of food left on anything (afraid of something getting baked on in there!), so my purpose in using the dishwasher is for sanitizing, as well as removing oil and odors. This is of greatest concern with plastic. I do not re-heat in plastic, but never thought much about the chemical issue with the dishwasher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 It all goes in at our house too; however, that's only about 10 things in our whole dish lineup, of which never more than 3 are in constant use. I don't worry about it. We all use stoneware-type dishes, even the 2-yo. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted August 26, 2010 Author Share Posted August 26, 2010 I do put my plastics in the dishwasher, top rack only, but all of my plastic is BPA-free so I don't think it's a problem (at least that's what I tell myself, anyway). I think it is the BPA that is the problem. I need to sort out my plastic by number anyway, and get rid of the dangerous numbers. Here is a link to what the numbers mean... http://ecovillagegreen.com/903/what-do-the-plastic-recycling-numbers-mean/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Everything goes in the dishwasher here. :) Here, too! Plates, Pots, Pans, Plastics.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edithcrawley Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I put all my plastics in the dishwasher, my gladware, my plastic cooking utensils, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sibbis Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I do but I really try to limit our use of plastic as much as I can. I don't put my pans or knives in the dishwasher - a sink full of dishes is my constant companion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 (edited) How much leaching happens when the plastic is cold? We don't own a dishwasher, so we never heat food in plastic. Oops -- I mean microwave. Edited August 26, 2010 by nestof3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 How much leaching happens when the plastic is cold? We don't own a dishwasher, so we never heat food in plastic. :lol::lol: I have never heated food in my dishwasher at all in plastic or otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 LOL -- I meant a microwave. :lol: DUH! :lol::lol:I have never heated food in my dishwasher at all in plastic or otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cottonmama Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I think it is the BPA that is the problem. BPA is one problem, but harmful chemicals can still leach off of BPA-free plastics. The FDA requires testing of any plastic that's going to be labelled microwave safe, but I'm not sure if they have any similar regulations for plastics to be dishwasher-safe. The thing is, tests have shown that some of the nasty chemicals can be transferred to your food even at cold temperatures. So I would prefer not to have my food touching plastics in any case, but especially plastics that are subjected to heat and detergent in the dishwasher, which can break down the plastic so it is more likely to transfer to food. That being said, I frequently use ziplock bags and plastic wrap, and I occasionally use a plastic plate or bowl. All our glass and ceramic bowls have plastic lids. Does anyone know if the glaze used on ceramics (say, Corningware, or porcelain plates) has plastic in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.