Dishwasher safety - "top shelf" vs. "bottom shelf"
The instruction manual for some of my kitchen equipment says "Dishwasher safe (top shelf)".
What difference is there between what an object on the top shelf of a dishwasher experiences, and what happens to an object on the bottom shelf?
What are the risks of putting one of these items on the bottom shelf?
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In most dishwashers the heating elements are on the bottom only. Lightweight plastic items might melt (soften and distort, not drip away) on the bottom, but they don't mind being in the steamy environment or being sprayed with hot detergent-laced water. They are therefore only dishwasher safe on the top shelf.
I've melted a plastic bowl or two in my time; there is a definite difference between top and bottom.
This only applies to dishwashers with heated dry cycles. However, many brands of dishwashers use condensation drying rather than heated drying, in which case your plastics are safe in the lower rack (example).
Differences include:
higher heat (water's had a chance to air cool before it gets higher up)
higher pressure
The pressure isn't as big of a deal typically (it could scrub off some finishes, but generally those items aren't marked as being 'dishwasher safe' at all. But for lighter weight items, it often means that they flip over or get thrown (possibly to the bottom of the dishwasher, where the heaters for drying are).
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