Dishwasher Safe or Not

When I was younger, I remember mom loading the dishwasher with certain dishes and washing others by hand.  There were some dishes that were marketed as “dishwasher safe” indicating that it could be washed in the dishwasher.  Most dishes were considered not to be dishwasher safe.

Later, things turned around in which all dishes were assumed to be dishwasher safe unless indicated otherwise.  Meanwhile dishwashers seemed to add more safety features and not everything questionable has to be placed on the top.  There are some plastics that can go on the bottom – even if the dishwasher is turned to the “pots and pans” setting.

Some dishes will come with a notice that “needs to be washed by hand” or “not dishwasher safe”.  But those instructions are not always carried over when said items are donated and purchased at second hand stores. 

I don’t know what Jenna’s obsession is with water bottles – Army water bottles in particular.  I thought it had something to do with her brother, Tony, as they had always been so close and he had sent her an Army bear for Christmas one year (see this post) but I have since learned that the memories include going to seminars or fairs and getting items for free.

Army water bottles are not dishwasher safe nor made to last – at least the kind that she has always received.  I was loading the dishwasher when she handed me her newest Army water bottle and asked if I would wash it.  Hand wash it or dishwasher?  Hmm . . . she had handed it to me when the dishwasher was open.  I placed it in the bottom for it was to large to go on top.  I think it would fit on top now as the product seems to be made from shrink wrap.

Not only did it shrink in size, but it is slightly tilted and though the shape of it seems to fit Jenna’s personality (I don’t know that either picture captures how it leans) there is too much gap between the lid and the groves of the bottle that it would leak if it was knocked over (which could easily happen with the shape) She ended up throwing it away and laughed about it.  She really is so good-natured.

I think it was another Army bottle she had that seemed to explode as it hit the ground.  She laughed about that, too, and said she’d be grateful that it happened outside and not inside the school.