Dishwasher Safe Symbol

Knowing the dishwasher safe symbol helps your dishes last longer—and spares you the heartbreak of a melted favorite mug. It’s easy to toss everything into the dishwasher to avoid dishpan hands, but some items just aren’t made for it. Keep reading to learn what’s safe for the dishwasher and what needs a gentle hand wash.

Before diving into dishwasher safe symbols, let’s talk about materials that are dishwasher safe. Here’s a list of common items that are generally dishwasher safe, along with some important tips for each

*Dishwasher Safe Materials*	*Care Tips*
Ceramic plates, bowls, mugs	Generally safe, but avoid antique or hand-painted items.
Pyrex	Top rack preferred to avoid extreme heat exposure.
Hard Plastic and wood composite cutting boards	Place on the top rack to avoid high heat.
Silicone	Safe, but avoid placing near heating elements.
Metal utensils	Remove sharp knives to prevent dulling.
Measuring cups & spoons	Safe for both racks.
Kitchen shears	Disassemble if possible for better cleaning.
Aluminum	Colored anodized aluminum may fade over time and darken due to minerals in water. Clean with a soap-filled steel wool pad if needed.
China, Crystal, Stoneware	Hand-painted items may discolor or fade. Position fragile glassware so it doesn’t topple or touch other items.
Glass	Only use dishwasher-safe glass. Milk glass may discolor or become yellow over time.
Non-stick coatings	After drying, apply a light coating of vegetable oil to maintain the non-stick surface.
Stainless Steel, Sterling Silver, Silver Plates	Avoid contact with other metals or the dishwasher walls to prevent tarnishing.

While the materials listed above are generally dishwasher safe, it’s always a good idea to double check. When shopping, look for a dishwasher safe symbol on the bottom of the item. This symbol often resembles one of the icons found on your dishwasher panel.

What Are Dishwasher Safe Symbols?

Wouldn’t it be convenient if dishwasher safe symbols were universal? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. However, these symbols generally share some common visual elements. A typical dishwasher safe symbol features a combination of circles, both large and small—representing plates—paired with water droplets or diagonal lines to symbolize water spray. Essentially, this symbol depicts dishes being cleaned in a dishwasher, indicating that the item is safe to use in one.

Here are common Dishwasher Safe Symbol as shown in the picture below

Keep reading to find out more about these dishwasher safe symbols in detail.

What is “Top Rack Only”

Some dishwasher safe symbols include additional instructions, such as indicating that the item is safe only for the top rack (common for lightweight or soft plastics). The reason to place delicate items on Top Rack is to maintain distance from the high temperature elements of bottom rack that can damage the item. Always take a closer look to ensure proper placement in the dishwasher to avoid damage.

What Does Dishwasher Safe Mean?

When an item is labeled as dishwasher safe, it means the material has been specially processed or treated during manufacturing to endure the heat, water pressure, and detergents used in dishwashers. This treatment ensures the durability of the item across multiple wash cycles without compromising its structure or appearance.

Dishwasher Safe Glass

Glass items marked as dishwasher safe often undergo a process called annealing, where the glass is slowly cooled to reduce internal stress points. Many glass dishware items are also tempered, meaning they are chemically treated to increase strength. Tempered glass is about four to five times sturdier than annealed glass, making it resistant to both the dishwasher and microwave.

Dishwasher Safe Ceramics

Ceramics are carefully cooled during manufacturing to minimize imperfections, followed by a protective glaze coating. The type of glaze used plays a significant role in determining whether a ceramic item is dishwasher safe. It’s always best to check for a dishwasher safe symbol on the bottom of ceramic dishware. If the symbol is missing, confirm with the manufacturer or opt for hand washing to be on the safe side.

Dishwasher Safe Plastics

The type of plastic used in an item significantly affects its dishwasher safety. Different plastics have varying melting points, and items made from lower-melting-point plastics may warp or degrade under high dishwasher temperatures. To protect such items, place them on the top rack, where temperatures are lower. Always verify that the plastic has a dishwasher safe symbol before washing.

How to Recognize and Understand Dishwasher Safe Symbols

There’s no single, universal dishwasher safe symbol, but most follow a similar theme. Common symbols depict abstract circles and lines designed to represent plates being sprayed with water. Some symbols may include additional instructions, such as indicating top-rack-only usage. Below is a variety of commonly used dishwasher safe symbols, along with their meanings:

If you see a symbol of a large circle next to a small circle with diagonal lines, it means the item is dishwasher safe. The circles represent dishes, and the diagonal lines symbolize the dishwasher’s water spray.

If this symbol also says top rack only, then it’s safe only for the top rack of your dishwasher. This is because the item may not withstand the high temperatures on the bottom rack.

Another common dishwasher safe symbol shows a plate next to a large water droplet or multiple small bubbles. If you see this, the item is safe for the dishwasher.

Lastly, a dishwasher safe symbol might show water droplets next to a wine glass, which could be positioned upside down or upright. This symbol also indicates dishwasher safety.

What Not to Load in Dishwasher

Now, what’s not safe? Avoid washing items joined with adhesives, fragile or hand-painted items, and anything prone to wear and tear, like non-stick pans, sharp knives, cast iron, aluminum, and copper. They may not break immediately but will lose their quality over time.

*Materials Not Safe for Dishwasher*	*Why Not*
Sharp knives or mandolines	Dishwashers dull sharp knife blades and can damage delicate edges.
Cast iron	Cast iron rusts and loses its seasoning. Hand wash to preserve its non-stick surface.
Nonstick pots and pans	Dish soap and detergent damage the nonstick coating, leading to wear and tear.
Aluminum cookware	Aluminum corrodes in the dishwasher, losing its shine and potentially causing discoloration.
Copper cookware	Copper tarnishes in the dishwasher, losing its luster and color.
Iron items	Iron rusts quickly in a dishwasher, and without immediate hand drying, it can deteriorate.
Pewter, Brass, Bronze	These materials tarnish easily in the dishwasher, losing their shine. Hand wash them immediately.
Wooden cutting boards, utensils, etc.	Wood is porous and absorbs water, leading to warping, cracking, or loss of finish.
Bone-handled utensils	The adhesive or material used in bone-handled utensils can separate or weaken over time.
Fine china, crystal, and hand-painted plates	Fragile and hand-painted items are more likely to break, chip, or lose their finish.
Electric kettles	Electric components can be damaged, and water can damage sensitive electrical parts.
Pressure cooker or air fryer parts	These parts have electric hookups or components that can’t be safely washed in a dishwasher.
Acrylic items	Acrylic can craze or develop small cracks from exposure to hot water or detergent.
Adhesive-joined pieces	Adhesives used to join materials like plastic, wood, or metal may loosen and fall apart in the heat and moisture.

Other Commonly Used Symbols

Here are some other symbols that people often confuse with dishwasher safe symbol. While they have their own purpose, having these symbol on your items does not make them dishwasher safe. Here is a breakdown:

Food Safe (Not Dishwasher Safe)

The chalice and fork symbol confirms that the item is safe for serving and eating food. While most of us don’t question whether a plate or bowl is food safe (because, let’s face it, we’re eating off it anyway), this symbol provides extra reassurance. Just remember, this isn’t the dishwasher safe symbol, so double-check if you’re tossing it in for a wash.

Microwave Safe

Before popping any container into the microwave, look for the microwave safe symbol—those squiggly radiation lines inside a square or box. Without it, you might end up with warped plastic or an accidental science experiment. If in doubt, play it safe and don’t microwave.

Maximum and Minimum Temperatures

Temperature range symbols help you avoid nasty surprises like cracked containers or melted bowls. Most plastics can’t handle the extremes—long-term freezer storage might leave you with brittle containers and leaking leftovers. If you see temperature markings, pay attention to them—it’s your dishware’s way of saying, “Handle me with care.”
Freezer Safe

Spot a snowflake symbol? Congratulations, your dishware is ready to brave the freezer without cracking under pressure. No guessing required here—just freeze away with confidence.
Recycling Safe

The recycling symbol, while unrelated to dishwashers, helps you make eco-friendly choices. Numbers inside the triangle, like 01 to 07, indicate the type of plastic. “01” refers to PET (polyethylene terephthalate), commonly used for water bottles. It’s lightweight, cheap, and easy to recycle. So, while this symbol won’t guide you on dishwashing, it’s a nice reminder to be kind to the planet.