How to Identify Dishwasher Safe Icons (Plus Other Dishware Symbols)

While you may be tempted to throw all your dirty dishes in the dishwasher without a care, it's important to check each item for a dishwasher-safe icon first. A dish that doesn't have a dishwasher-safe icon might need to be hand-washed to preserve its quality and integrity. This helpful guide will show you the dishwasher-safe symbols (as well as the "not dishwasher-safe" symbol), explain what "dishwasher-safe" means, how to tell if an item is dishwasher-safe (even if you don't see an icon), and more!

What are the dishwasher-safe symbols?

A wine glass next to a water droplet
An upside-down wine glass with 3 water droplets falling on it
A plate next to a water droplet
A plate next to a wine glass
Two plates getting washed in a dishwasher
Two plates in a dishwasher with the words "Dishwasher safe on top rack" beneath

Section 1 of 7:

Dishwasher Safe Icons & Their Meanings

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Wine glass with a water droplet You'll find this symbol on the bottom of drinking glasses of all shapes and materials. Even though the glass in the icon looks like a wine goblet, it doesn't only appear on those types of glasses. It also appears on mugs, tumblers, juice glasses, and other cups.^{[1]
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- Upside-down wine glass variation: This version shows the wine glass upside down with three water droplets falling on it from above.
This symbol is common on plates as well as other types of dishware, such as bowls or platters. While the icon only depicts one plate, you can still safely wash the item with other dishwasher-safe objects.^{[2]
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Two plates getting washed in a dishwasher This common dishwasher-safe symbol shows a large plate and a small plate inside a square black frame. The frame represents the outside of the dishwasher. Thin, slanted lines over the plates illustrate water coming down from the spray arms inside the appliance.^{[3]
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- Plate and glass variation: An alternate version of this symbol depicts one plate and one wine glass instead of two plates.
This symbol looks exactly like the "two plates getting washed in a dishwasher" icon above. But it also features the words "DISHWASHER SAFE ON THE TOP RACK" underneath it. A dish bearing this icon is probably made of a delicate material that could become damaged if it's directly exposed to high heat. Placing it on the top rack stows it further away from the heating element at the bottom of the appliance.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 7:

What is the "not dishwasher-safe" icon?

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Anytime you see an icon on a dish with a single, slanting line or an "X" drawn all the way across it, it means you shouldn't do what the symbol shows. If a dish isn't dishwasher-safe, it may have an icon like the one above on it. It may also be printed with the words "Not dishwasher-safe" or "Hand-wash only."

Section 3 of 7:

What does "dishwasher-safe" mean?

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Not every cup, plate, bowl, or dish can be washed in the dishwasher. The manufacturer must treat it to hold up against heat, dishwasher pods and other detergents, and water spray from wash after wash. If a kitchen item is made from a material that could get warped, cracked, scratched, or dulled by high heat or spraying water, it will have a "not dishwasher-safe" or a "hand-wash only" symbol on it.^{[5]
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Section 4 of 7:

How to Tell If an Item Is Dishwasher Safe

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Check the bottom of the item for a "dishwasher-safe" symbol. The quickest way to make sure a dish you want to wash is safe to put in the dishwasher is to look at the bottom. Most dishes have a dishwasher-safe symbol or a non-dishwasher-safe symbol printed or imprinted on them. In some cases, you may find the words "Dishwasher-safe" or "Hand-wash only" instead of a symbol.
- Not all kitchen items have symbols on them. Utensils, for example, usually don't have a dishwasher-safe icon. If the item you want to wash doesn't have a symbol or words indicating how it should be washed, check the material it's made out of.
Some items can't go in the dishwasher because the material they're made of won't maintain its integrity. For example, house cleaning specialist Laura Smith says that nonstick pots and pans must be washed by hand. "If you put them through the dishwasher," she explains, "the nonstick is going to wear down faster, and ultimately, it will take away the nonstick [coating]."^{[6]
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Laura Smith
House Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview} Wood kitchen utensils and cutting boards also shouldn't go in the dishwasher because the high heat and moisture can cause the material to dry, warp, and splinter.^{[7]
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If you can't find a dishwasher-safe symbol and you're not sure if the material should be hand-washed, look up the item on a list of dishwasher-safe items from a reputable source. You can also refer to our handy "Items That Are Dishwasher Safe" and "Items That Aren't Dishwasher Safe" sections below!

Section 5 of 7:

Items That Are Dishwasher Safe

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These include forks, knives, and spoons, metal cooking utensils (e.g., spatulas, ladles, slotted spoons, etc.), plates, drinking glasses, storage containers, platters, and baking dishes.^{[8]
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Section 6 of 7:

Items That Aren't Dishwasher Safe

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Avoid loading knives, non-stainless steel metal, wood, or anything mechanical. Private chef and food educator Ollie George Cigliano says, "Do not wash your knives in the dishwasher. Wash [them] in hot soapy water and dry by hand."^{[9]
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Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Interview} The reason you should hand-wash and dry them is that the dishwasher will dull your knives over time. You should also avoid loading your dishwasher with pots, pans, or utensils that are made of a different metal than stainless steel, such as aluminum, cast-iron, or copper.^{[10]
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Research source} Below are some other items you should hand-wash only:
- Antique or fine china
- Thin and delicate glassware or crystal dishes
- Insulated mugs and containers
- Hollow-handled utensils (e.g., whisks or old-fashioned ice cream scoops)
- Mechanical items (e.g., pasta rollers, meat grinders, or mills)
- Thin plastic items
- Stone items
- Wood items
- Hand-painted items

Section 7 of 7:

Other Dishware Symbols

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Food-safe The food-safe symbol is a wine goblet and a fork. When you see this icon on an item, it means the item is safe to put food or beverages on or in. The material it's made of won't leach any chemicals into whatever you're eating or drinking.^{[11]
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Microwave-safe The microwave-safe icon looks like three or more wavy horizontal lines contained in a square black frame. The frame represents the outside of the microwave, and the lines represent the heat from the appliance. If you see it on a dish, it means that dish is safe to heat up in the microwave. It won't break under the high heat.^{[12]
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- Other variations include a more detailed microwave illustration, the word "MICRO" underneath the wavy lines, and wavy lines hovering above a baking dish.
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Freezer-safe The freezer-safe icon is easy to spot because it's just a snowflake. Whatever dish you see this symbol on can be stored in the frigid temperatures of your freezer without cracking or warping.^{[13]
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Minimum and maximum temperature This symbol shows a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature below it in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. It lets you know the highest temperature you can heat a dish and how cold it can get before it melts, warps, or cracks. It's especially helpful when you're thinking about using a dish to store food.^{[14]
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Induction compatible The induction compatible symbol looks like a spring lying on its side. It's most common on pots and pans, and lets you know you can safely cook with the item on an induction-style stovetop and oven.^{[15]
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Recyclable This trio of twisting arrows tells you if a dish can be recycled or not. If you ever decide you no longer want a dish with the recyclable symbol on it, and it's not in good enough condition to donate, take it to your local recycling plant.^{[16]
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- Some variations of the recycling symbol contain numbers inside the arrows. These numbers identify the type of plastic the item is made with, so you know how to recycle it properly.