Can wood go in the dishwasher?

Before you throw your wooden cutting boards and utensils in the dishwasher, discover what the impact could be and how you really should be washing up these delicate items, thanks to Finish.

Can Wood Go in the Dishwasher?

There’s no doubt that having a dishwasher in your home is a luxury. From magically washing your entire family’s plates after a special occasion to cleaning your dishes while you sleep, today’s dishwashers are designed to impress. But don’t be mistaken– not all your favourite kitchen items can handle the heat (literally). Some materials, particularly wood, should be treated with care when it comes to washing up.

So, can you put wood in the dishwasher at all? Whether wooden kitchenware, utensils or wood cutting boards are dishwasher safe, depends on the item itself. The general rule is that wooden items should be hand washed only, but if you’re unsure, always check for a dishwasher safe symbol before placing the item in your machine with the next load.

Can you put wood cutting boards in the dishwasher

Although it might be tempting to throw your wooden cutting boards in with the rest of your dishes, it’s probably not the best idea. When wood is exposed to such high heat and moisture during a long washing cycle – and then is left to dry – it can warp, splinter, and eventually break.

Avoid ruining your expensive wooden cutting boards and opt to hand wash them instead. For best results, disinfect the cutting board by wiping it down using a solution made from 1–2 teaspoons of bleach per litre of water, before washing it by hand using hot, soapy water in the kitchen sink.

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Video tutorial: How to load your dishwasher

Does it matter what detergent I use?

Your detergent needs to complement the cleansing action of your dishwasher. Automatic dishwashing detergent is specially formulated to disperse food residue and greasy soiling, hold it in suspension, and remove it in the final rinse. It does all this while producing little or no suds.

For best results use the detergent recommended by the manufacturer of your machine.

Finish brand is #1 global value sales in Automatic Dish Washing category* and recommended by leading dishwasher manufacturers such as Midea and Bosch. In very hard water areas we also recommend the use of separate Salt and Rinse aid to protect your machine and achieve the best result.

* Finish brand is #1 global value sales in Automatic Dish Washing category in 38 countries representing for more than 80% of global sales of DW detergent (source: NielsenIQ RMS data)

Do I need to pre-rinse my dishes before loading them into the dishwasher?

No need to! Pre-rinsing is a thing of the past. And although many British households do it, it’s time consuming and wasteful of precious resources [4.0.1].

Modern detergents such as Finish Quantum Ultimate [1.2.1.1] contain both bleach and enzymes and are recommended by dishwasher manufacturers for use without pre-rinsing.

Bleach fights tough stains like tea and coffee, and enzymes breakdown proteins and starches. All you have to do is scrape the larger pieces into the rubbish bin and load your dishwasher.

How do dishwasher tablets work?

Dishwasher tablets contain surfactants, which affect the liquid they are added to, making it more efficient at picking up and washing away debris. They also include enzymes (to break down starchy foods and protein), builders (to tackle hard water) and safe bleaches.

Once you’ve put your dishwasher tablet into the detergent dispenser compartment, your machine will release the contents at the optimal time allowing the tab to disintegrate into the water, release all ingredients and clean your dishes!

How should I store my dishwashing detergent?

Your dishwashing detergent should be stored in a dry environment. If you are using powder, be careful to close the spout after each use to help keep the product dry (and to avoid spills!). Like all cleaning products, store your detergent out of the reach of children.

Do I need to add salt and rinse aid?

Rinse aid is required to:

Ensure spot-free, shiny dishes
Assist the drying function

Salt is required to:

Protect your machine from limescale
Soften the water for better cleaning

With multi-benefit tablets such as Finish Quantum Ultimate and Finish All in One, rinse aid and salt functions are included. However, in very hard water areas we also recommend the use of separate Salt and Rinse aid products to protect your machine and achieve the best result.

How do I use dishwasher tablets?

Dishwasher tablets are very simple to use. If needed, remove any protective packaging, pop the tablet into your detergent dispensing compartment, close the compartment, turn on your washing machine and let technology and Finish handle the rest!

For detailed information on how to use Finish Tablets, read on below.

With dry hands, remove the tablet from the container and place it in the detergent dispenser. Ensure both the dispenser and the tablet is dry to prevent it from dissolving prematurely.

Close the tablets packaging lid tightly. Store away from heat and moisture to protect the remaining tablets.

Our tablets are wrapper-free (with the exception of Finish Classic) and are designed to release their contents when they come into contact with water. Do not pierce or attempt to unwrap the tablets.

Clip the detergent dispenser shut and close your dishwasher.

Make sure all items are dishwasher safe and separate silver from stainless steel.

Wash metal items according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Run dishwasher. The optimal water temperature is 51° – 60°C.

For optimal results, it is recommended to also use Finish Rinse Aid for shinier and drier dishes (vs. detergent alone).

Can you put dishwasher tablets in the bottom of the dishwasher?

Detergent tablets should always be placed in the detergent dispenser compartment.

If you’re placing the tablet at the bottom of the dishwasher it’s likely that it will dissolve too quickly, releasing the detergent during the prewash and leaving no detergent for the main wash cycle. This will reduce the efficiency of your wash.

Do I take the plastic off Finish dishwasher tablets?

Whether you need to remove the plastic from your dishwasher tablet depends on the product you have bought. As a good rule of thumb, if the tablet comes individually wrapped then yes, you should remove the plastic wrap before using. If, however, the tablet is encased in a skin of thin, transparent plastic, this should not be removed and will dissolve itself safely during the washing process.

Where do I put the dishwasher tablet?

Dishwasher tablets should only go in the dishwasher detergent compartment of your dishwasher, not loose in the dishwasher itself.