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Can You Put Aluminum in the Dishwasher? (Answered)

Dishwashers are considered one of the most commonly used kitchen appliances that are found in almost every household. 

Generally, a dishwasher is used to clean dirty utensils as well as to clean stains from them. In today’s article, we will discuss if you can put aluminum in the dishwasher. 

Putting aluminum in the dishwasher  

Cookware made of aluminum is known to be quite fancy looking. So, you need to handle them carefully. As the cookware moves around during the wash cycle, the look of the cookware can get damaged. That is why you can put aluminum cookware in the dishwasher if you do not care about the marks.

Dishwashers are considered a regularly used kitchen appliance that is used to clean dishes and utensils. Generally, they are quite useful to clean stains from the plates and reduce human efforts to clean dishes using their modern and advanced technology. 

However, using the dishwashers is tricky as you cannot put every type of dish or utensils inside a dishwasher to clean them. The general technique of the dishwasher enables them to clean the dishes by moving around during the wash cycle. 

That is why, if a specific type of dish or utensil is not suitable to use in a dishwasher, it can get damaged or broken. 

Sometimes, it can lead to expensive damage to the dishes inside the dishwasher so you need to be careful when putting utensils, cookware, or dishes inside them. So, you need to determine the types of dishes that you can use in a dishwasher. 

In the case of aluminum cookware, you need to keep a few things in your mind. Before putting aluminum cookware inside a dishwasher, you need to know that aluminum cookware is made to be quite fancy and sensitive. 

They can easily get spots or marks during the dishwasher’s washing cycle. As a result, it can lead to damage to the aluminum cookware if you put them clean inside a dishwasher. 

However, if you are not worried about the condition of your cookware after putting the dishwasher, you can simply put them without any issue. 

In some cases, you may notice the aluminum cookware can look dull and darkened after putting them in the dishwasher for cleaning. Generally, it happens if the aluminum cookware is not anodized. 

The cleaning detergents can easily cause damage and lead to corrosion. Below is a brief discussion on what happens if you put different types of aluminum cookware in the dishwasher:

Anodized aluminum: 

Generally, it is not recommended to put anodized aluminum cookware inside a dishwasher for cleaning because the heat and harsh chemical detergents can cause the aluminum cookware to become dull and darkened. 

In some cases, the anodized aluminum cookware surface may start to chip off and be exposed to erosion. 

Disposable aluminum: 

You should not put disposable aluminum cookware or pots and pans inside the dishwasher because they can easily start to fade and oxidize due to the reaction of water and harsh cleaning detergents. 

Generally, the detergents can even lead to corrosion of the dishes so you need to be very careful when putting aluminum inside a dishwasher. 

In addition to that, if you are not worried about the aluminum pots and pans being damaged, you can put them inside the dishwasher for cleaning.

Is aluminum safe in dishwasher?  

The dishwasher is considered the most commonly used kitchen appliance that is found in almost every household. Many people use a dishwasher to clean dirty dishes, pots, and pans. 

Generally, a dishwasher helps to get rid of stubborn stains. However, you should be very careful when putting dishes, pots, and pans inside a dishwasher, because not all the utensils are not suitable to put inside a dishwasher. 

You should not put aluminum cookware inside a dishwasher for cleaning. Generally, the dishwasher produces water that contains high heat and detergent that contains harmful chemical compounds which can easily damage the aluminum cookware. 

As a result, your aluminum cookware may start to oxidize. In addition to that, it may start to look dull and darkened. 

In some cases, putting aluminum cookware inside a dishwasher can cause damage to the aluminum cookware surface and start to cause erosion. That is why you can say that aluminum is not safe inside a dishwasher. 

Why can’t you put aluminum in the dishwasher?  

Generally, dishwashers are used to clean dirty utensils, pots, and pans. Kitchen appliances are really helpful to get rid of stubborn food stains from the plates and bowls. 

You need to be very careful when putting the cookware inside the dishwasher because not all the cookware is suitable to clean in the dishwasher. 

Generally, it is not recommended to put aluminum cookware inside a dishwasher because it can cause significant damage to the fancy-looking cookware. Generally, aluminum cookware is made to be fancy looking and sensitive. 

That is why it can react to the chemical compounds present in the cleaning detergent. In most cases, the aluminum cookware tends to get damaged and dull due to the contact of harsh chemical components present in the dishwashing detergent. 

Below is a brief discussion on a few reasons why you can’t put aluminum in the dishwasher: 

They oxidize quickly: 

Generally, the aluminum to tend to oxidize quickly when in contact with the high heat of the water. That is why if you put them in the dishwasher, they can oxidize quickly in the presence of high heat of the water. 

They can fade away and look dull: 

One of the common reasons why you should not put aluminum cookware inside the dishwasher is because it can easily fade away and look dull. 

In some cases, it may cause your cookware to become darkened if you clean them using the dishwasher. 

It can lead to aluminum corrosion: 

If you clean your aluminum cookware using this washer, it can lead to corrosion of the aluminum cookware surface very quickly.

How to restore aluminum after dishwasher?  

Generally, dishwashers are considered one of the most common types of kitchen appliances that you can use to clean the dishes. 

But sometimes you need to be careful when using dishes to clean in the dishwasher because not all types of cookware are not suitable for the dishwashers to clean. 

Generally, the dishwashers contain high heat of the water and cleaning detergent that has chemical compounds that can be harmful to some types of cookware. Generally, it is not recommended to use aluminum cookware to clean the dishwasher. 

Aluminum dishwashers tend to oxidize quickly. As a result, it can cause your aluminum cookware to look dull and darkened. 

In addition to that, using aluminum cookware to clean in the dishwasher can cause significant damage to the cookware because it can cause erosions to grow on the surface of the cookware. 

That is why you can simply follow the steps below to clean the aluminum cookware which has been damaged due to cleaning in the dishwasher: 

Scrub with cream of tartar: 

Generally, scrubbing your aluminum cookware using the cream of tartar is highly effective to restore the shine and look of the aluminum cookware that has been damaged due to cleaning in the dishwasher. 

Use ketchup, lemon, and vinegar: 

You can try using a mixture of ketchup, lemon, and vinegar to scrub the surface of aluminum cookware to restore its beauty and look. This will also help you to prevent corrosion on the surface of the cookware. 

Use ammonium citrate: 

Sometimes using ammonium citrate to clean the aluminum cookware helps to prevent corrosion and damage to the aluminum cookware. In addition to that, it also helps to sustain the quality of the cookware.

What metal cannot go in the dishwasher? 

Several types of cookware that should not go inside a dishwasher. Generally, a dishwasher can clean a specific type of cookware. 

If you put anything that does not suit the harsh chemical compounds present in the detergent used in the dishwasher, it can damage them. 

In addition to that, the general rule of the dishwashing cycle enables them to move around all the cookware inside the dishwasher, so there’s a chance that some cookware might Break. Below is a brief discussion on what metal cannot go in the dishwasher:  

Enameled cast iron cookware: 

It is not recommended to put animal cast iron cookware inside a dishwasher because they are sensitive and can easily get damaged.

Copper: 

Pots and pans made using copper should not go inside a dishwasher. 

Brass: 

It is highly recommended to avoid putting brass inside a dishwasher because they are sensitive and can easily get damaged. 

Final thoughts

Generally, aluminum is considered a sensitive type of metal that should not go inside the dishwasher. It can react to the hot water and harsh chemical compounds present in the dish cleaning detergent. As a result, it can easily get dull and darkened. In some cases, it may start to corrode.