Why does the dishwasher make knives dull?

Question

Basically title but also:
— maybe this isn’t actually true
— yes, I know the dishwasher is bad for knives

In: Other

Answer 1

A few years ago I was on a consulting gig at a “major German knife manufacturer” and asked the same question.  According to them, dishwashers aren’t inherently bad for knives nor do they dull them.  Dishwashing detergent, however, can be very bad for metal (depends on the quality/composition of materials used in the knife’s construction).