I mean, I put them through the dishwasher sometimes anyway, but I’m told I shouldn’t? 🤷🏻♀️
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Usually it’s fine. They can go in the microwave too (maybe better not with a metallic glaze). If they had water trapped in the clay somewhere, the thing would have cracked in the kiln.
The glaze might not be as sturdy. You can see that in industrially made things too, the glaze cracks all of a sudden. It’s called “crazing” and happens when the glaze is under stress. Again, not so much of an issue in itself, it’s just the glaze, the cup won’t break completely along those lines. But it’s no longer perfectly sealed there. Water (and with bad luck bacteria) can get to the way more porous clay. And heating a crazed cup that has soaked up water suddenly (microwave, dishwasher on hot, or just pouring hot water in) could chip fragments of the glaze off or break the cup.
But usually it’s fine. That’s like the labels on wool or silk clothes “dry clean only”, there can be reasons for it, but that it’s wool/silk is *not* it. Sheep don’t shrink in the rain.
It is not the heat that is the problem it is the water. If it is not glazed it is porous and water getting into it that is the problem.
What is also stated is that hand-painted ceramics should not be put in the dishwasher, that is to protect the paint. That sounds quite reasonable.
I have not tried that myself, that is because I do not use that type of ceramic so I do not know if that really is a problem. It is stated online and by some manufacturers of dishwasher detergent. It looks like part of the problem is that it can absorb the dishwasher detergent and it can get into your food. Dishsing a cup by hand is not hard so I would just do that and avoid the dishwasher.
https://bigtimekitchen.com/pottery-in-dishwasher/
the whole ceramic piece has to be glazed all over, or the water issues others mentioned with be a problem
I took 4 quarters of ceramics in college. I absolutely loved it. Our instructor made sure all glazes were dishwasher and microwave safe. And did not allow any glaze that was not to be fired with students projects.
I can’t imagine many others doing differently.
It isn’t about the heat but about the moisture. Ceramic isn’t fully waterproof and the water will sit in the pores of the material. Over time this will make the mug crack.
The heat isn’t the issue, the detergent is. Ceramic absorbs water very easily, including the detergent. But detergent isn’t fit for consumption, yet it would leech out into your drink.
It’s not the ceramic that you risk breaking, but rather the finish that is of concern. Putting delicate paints and finishes in the dishwasher is all but guaranteed to scratch and ruin their costing.
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