If your household is anything like ours, chances are you find some pretty weird stuff in that old dishwasher of yours.

Yep, it sure is annoying when negligent spouses, know-it-all in-laws, and lazy teenagers cram as much non-dishwasher-safe material into our time-saving kitchen appliance. It doesn’t matter how many sticky notes we leave on its outside panel, we’re basically resigned to the fact that our loving fam will always manage to find a way to ruin our go-to kitchenware.

Frustrating — and totally relatable! – -scenario, right? Well, what if we told you that your loved ones are probably cramming even more items in there that even you likely don’t know aren’t dishwasher safe?!

Yep, it’s a sad reality, but there certainly are a handful of items that should go nowhere near the dishwasher— and the worst part is that some are actually labeled “dishwasher-safe”! Here are a few of the most surprising ones…

1. Graters and Sieves

   There are two types of people in this world: those who put their cheese graters in the dishwasher and those who don’t put their cheese graters in the dishwasher. While even we admit to throwing ours in after a particularly food-coma-inducing Italian dinner night-in, it’s really not something that anyone should get in the habit of doing.

   This is because the automated dishwashing process typically involves too much water to properly clean these sharp tools without leaving them rusted. And remember, the same goes for sieves, too! So, what’s the easiest — and least painful! — way to clean yours? Well, with a toothbrush, of course!

2. Nonstick Pans

   OK, throwing a nonstick pan in the dishwasher ONCE might not end in a potential culinary disaster, but doing it many times can completely ruin your beloved cooking instrument forever. This is because nonstick materials, such as those found in Teflon, aren’t designed to withstand the super-hot, moist conditions of the dishwashing cycle.

   But, let’s look on the bright side— at least non-stick pans are super simple to clean in the sink!

3. Copper Pans and Mugs

   Recently, copper cookware has really been enjoying a renaissance. It’s a great, long-lasting alternative to those often-cheap aforementioned nonstick pans, but, unfortunately, they don’t belong anywhere near your dishwasher. This is for two reasons: 1) dishwasher detergents can discolor copper and 2) the dishwashing process can leave dents in the cookware.

   Pro tip: to give your copper cookware a deep polish, try ketchup. Yes, KETCHUP!

Now that you’ve started to gather yet another list of non-dishwasher safe items that you have to lecture your friends and family on, it’s time for you to get the scoop on the last two.

To learn about another couple of common kitchen items that have no business going anywhere near your dishwasher, be sure to click on the video below. Let’s fight the good fight and keep our kitchenware safe, people!

We can’t wait to hear your take on all things non-dishwasher safe. Were you surprised by any items on the list or from the video? Can you name any other items that shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher? Have you successfully trained your family on the complexities of dishwasher “dos” and “don’ts?”