How do dishwashers remove E Coli and other organics from our dishes. Are they really safe.

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I have just found out there’s ecoli in my well water at the place we just moved to and am hearing I need 165 to kill ecoli but my dishwasher says it only heats to 155 but claims this meets the standard for safe drinking water.

Confused about whether or not it’s safe to use the dishes coming out of my dishwasher till the well manager can come up with a method to treat the water or something.

I can’t even imagine how I would boil the water I use to run through the dishwasher or clean my dishes with boiling water by hand sounds super fun.

Is it safe to use the dishwasher?

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78 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

E. coli dies in seconds at 165, but also dies in (a few) minutes at 155. Unless your dishwasher is only washing for a few seconds, that lower temperature will still be sanitary. Moreover, e.coli doesn’t live forever on a dry plate in your cupboard, it will ultimately die there as well. Should you fix your problem? Of course. Will you catch e. Coli from washing dishes 10deg F lower than the recommended temp? Seems low risk.

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