Dishes in the dishwasher: which ones are good and which aren't? A practical guide to choosing

The dishwasher, although it is a very important household appliance, which allows us to save considerable time when carrying out simple daily activities, such as cleaning dishes and crockery, is not always suitable for washing certain types of food. dinner sets, such as delicate ones, which require manual care.

In this article, we will discover which dishes can be washed in the dishwasher and which are better washed by hand. In addition, we will also delve into the economic and environmental advantages of this technological household helper.

Is using a dishwasher worthwhile?

For some people, the dishwasher still appears to be a non-essential accessory that could impact water and electricity consumption.

It should be noted that generally, this specific reasoning is carried out above all by those who have never owned a dishwasher, ignoring the real potential and efficiency of this appliance.

In reality, the dishwasher saves time and resources by simply placing plates, cutlery and pots inside it. And glasses as long as they are free of food residues. A great advantage is that, unlike manual washing, you do not have to rinse and dry everything by hand: the machine does everything by itself.

Therefore, using a dishwasher means that you do not have to spend your time manually washing, rinsing each individual dish and drying them, as all this is done automatically by the appliance.

Energy and water savings: the data speaks for itself

As far as consumption is concerned, it is important to know that using a dishwasher offers significant advantages both in terms of economic savings and protection of the environment in which we live.

A study conducted by the University of Bonn has concluded that the efficiency of the dishwasher, compared to washing dishes by hand, allows for significant savings in water.

According to this study, to manually wash 12 place settings, the equivalent of everything used during a dinner attended by 12 people, over 100 litres of water are consumed , while a high-end dishwasher, for the same job, uses no more than 70 litres .

While in terms of electricity consumption, a dishwasher with a high energy class consumes on average 1.5 kW/h per cycle, with even lower values ​​for short and low-temperature washes ( about 0.7 kWh ). This is because it is only during the water heating phase that it requires the greatest amount of electricity.

Why can't some dishes be washed in the dishwasher?

The materials of some dishes are not suitable for washing in the dishwasher, as the high temperature could deteriorate their shape.

Therefore, if during a lunch or dinner you wish to use crystal, wooden, ivory or mother-of-pearl tableware, manual cleaning is always recommended to ensure the shine (for crystal), the original shape (for wood which tends to bend) and to ensure that any decorations on them are not damaged.

This happens because dishwasher detergent is always combined with other detergents, such as rinse aid, which, combined with the high temperature generated during the wash cycle, could irreparably ruin valuable or, in any case, sentimentally valuable plates, glasses and cutlery.

Which dishes are dishwasher safe?

Fortunately, many dinnerware sets today are designed to withstand dishwasher use without compromising their aesthetics or functionality.

For example, the dishes of the line Churchill Vintage Prints Grey Rose Chinitz, although embellished with fine prints with a vintage chic design, a tribute to the city of Prague, are made of resistant porcelain, with the use of cutting-edge technologies and design innovation, so that they can resist not only knocks and scratches but also the high temperatures of dishwashers and the detergents used for cleaning them.

For everyday use, it is always recommended to use a set of white porcelain dishes, such as those belonging to the line Costa Verde Saturno , whose soup plates are well suited for serving risottos, soups and first courses in general.

Quality porcelain is a resistant and robust material that guarantees the inalterability of dishes that are used daily and subjected to frequent washing in the dishwasher.

In any case, the plates, usually on the back, show the indication whether or not they are suitable for washing in the dishwasher. When purchasing a new set of dishes, you should always consider the compatibility with the dishwasher to save time and keep the dishes shiny for longer.

Discover all our durable and dishwasher-safe dinnerware sets.