Dishwasher Safety

Dishwashers are great time savers. To keep you and your family safe the American Cleaning Institute offers a dozen tips for dishwasher safety:

1. Place sharp items, like knives, with points down in the utensil basket.
2. Carefully place glassware to prevent breaking/chipping. Make sure they can’t rattle against each other when the dishes and glasses are sprayed with the water or when you slide the rack in or out.
3. Avoid overloading. Crowing glasses and plates can cause them to chip or break (and they won’t get clean either).
4. Allow the machine to cool before reaching in to prevent burns from the steam.
5. After loading or unloading the dishwasher, close the door, so others won’t fall over it.
6. Add a child safety lock to help keep small children from opening and climbing/standing on the open door.
7. Like all household cleaning products, store automatic dishwashing products and detergent out of the reach of small children and pets.
8. Read the dishwashing detergent label and follow the directions.
9. Don't fill the dispenser cups until you're ready to run the dishwasher. Otherwise, curious children or pets may get into them.
10. Don't mix dishwashing detergent with other cleaning products - irritating fumes could result.
11. Keep detergent in original container with the label intact - and never reuse the container.
12. Avoid direct contact between gel detergent and skin or clothes.

Note: Not every dish or utinsil should be cleaned in the dishwasher. Hand wash delicate items.