I mean, I put them through the dishwasher sometimes anyway, but I’m told I shouldn’t? 🤷🏻♀️
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I’m a potter. You absolutely can put most home made ceramics through the dishwasher. I do all the time. There are some exceptions. But if someone is making a mug or other functional piece, they should not be using those exceptions.
Go for it.
Home made ceramics, such as a mug, should not be put through the dishwasher because the extreme heat and pressure of the dishwasher can cause the ceramic to crack or break. Additionally, the detergents used in the dishwasher can cause glaze on the ceramic to become discolored or damaged. It is best to hand wash home made ceramics with mild soap and water.
You can. My wife makes ceramic dinnerware/cups and we dishwasher them frequently, never had an issue.
I throw pottery and have 2 dozen pieces at home and they are completely dishwasher safe. Some glazes or pieces aren’t, but plenty are.
Here is a simple answer:
Never risk an item in the dishwasher that can’t easily be replaced.
Detergents, dishwasher water jets, dishwasher or plumbing malfunctions, loose glasses or other dishes hitting things, or even just high powered water jets can break down enamel, glaze, or cause fractures in the material. Dishwasher water jets are tiny power washers – you shouldn’t power wash materials that can be damaged by intense pressure mixed with temperature changes and heat.
There are also different types of clay and unless you know what was used, you can’t be sure that a material is safe under your dishwasher’s conditions. It might be fine once then break, but it will definitely shorten the lifetime of that product.
High heat once may harden a piece, but regular high heat and exposure to water can degrade materials.
If you value something, hand wash it gently to ensure care and longevity.
Ever had a handle break off of a mug? Or maybe a microfracture form on the rim of your favorite bowl? All of that can be from your dishwasher.
The issue with dishwashers is less about great and more about the abrassiveness of the detergents and things better banged together
I work full time in a pottery studio with a strong focus in glaze chemistry/formulation/testing.
Handmade mugs can go through the dishwasher just fine so long as they’re relatively well made and the glazes are well formulated.
Like others have said, the dishwasher is a very rough environment on glazes, and less durable glazes can be noticeably affected.
Plenty of handmade ceramics have vivid glazes that flow and run to give nice effects, but these glazes are necessarily less durable. It may be worthwhile to handwash hand made pottery if you want the finish to stay pristine over the years.
That said, I put all my stuff in the dishwasher and so far it’s all been fine.
Person who heavily supports local potter’s here, everyone should! Stop buying commercially made ceramic! I put all mine through the dishwasher, they’re perfectly fine after many washes. Almost all food safe ceramic is fired at high enough temp that it doesn’t matter they won’t take in any moisture from a dishwasher. And to be food safe they have to be glazed aka protected. Some glazes are weird but I don’t know a respectable potter who would lable ceramics glazed with those as food safe.
They can absorb water and explode in your microwave. Maybe it’s unlikely but you roll the dice every time. If it’s never going to be microwaved like a fruit bowl or something, do whatever but it’s not good for the longevity of the piece to leave it soaking in water for extended periods. The abrasives in the soap can also wreck some glazes.
Crazing (cracks in glaze) can occur in the dishwasher when the glaze and ceramic expand differently. Say the glaze expands less/slower than the ceramic and when the item swells it pushes on the glaze layer, breaking it. Hand washing subjects the item to less heat and thermal expansion.
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