What does it mean when it does NOT say Top Rack Only?

I have more plastic stuff to wash in the dishwasher than I used to and
have often run out of space in the top rack, while the bottom rack
might be half empty.

Things used to say Top Rack Only. If it doesn't say that, does it
mean the bottom rack is okay too?

(And btw, has it ever been that much hotter on the bottom rack?)

My water suppply is cold and it has a built-in heater, on my 31-year
old Kenmore/Whirlpool machine.

I'm thinking specifically of

The tall plastic glasses made 20 and 30 years ago with inner and outer
pieces and air in between, that is, thermal plastic glasses and cups.

The plastic ice cube hopper that came with the fridge 30 years ago.

Moderately stiff, not vinyl, plastic ice cube trays, two of which came
with the fridge 30 years ago, and two of which were bought 5 years
ago.

The plastic containers that some Chinese takeout places use this year.
Most still use the folded paper with wire hanger, and some a heavy tin
foil bottom with a clear plastic top, but the two nearest me use high
quality, clearly re-usable, with tight-fitting tops, not as flexible
as tupperware and maybe one step down in cost or quality. (I could go
ask them, but I've switched from one to the other, so I don't want to
go into the first one, and I'm on a non-Chinese takeout diet for a
month)

Nothing on any of these about Top Rack Only.

Thanks for any info.

On Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:54:49 -0500, mm
wrote:

What does it mean when it does NOT say Top Rack Only?


Everything in my kitchen is microwave and dishwasher safe. I melted
all the other stuff years ago.

?
"mm" wrote in message news:
What does it mean when it does NOT say Top Rack Only?

I have more plastic stuff to wash in the dishwasher than I used to and
have often run out of space in the top rack, while the bottom rack
might be half empty.

Things used to say Top Rack Only. If it doesn't say that, does it
mean the bottom rack is okay too?

I've always put plastic on the bottom. Never had a problem with any of it
in my KA machines over the years. Mostly it is stuff fro either
Rubbermaid, Tupper, or some cheaper clones. Never melted any.




My water suppply is cold and it has a built-in heater, on my 31-year
old Kenmore/Whirlpool machine.

Sounds icky. Does it really get hot enough on every cycle? Most have a
heater just to boost, not to heat.



I'm thinking specifically of

The tall plastic glasses made 20 and 30 years ago with inner and outer
pieces and air in between, that is, thermal plastic glasses and cups.

Amazing they lasted that long under any circumstances. Usually the seal
goes and they take on water.



The plastic ice cube hopper that came with the fridge 30 years ago.

Never washed a tray that I recall, but should be good to go.




The plastic containers that some Chinese takeout places use this year.


Many of them will melt in hot enough water on any rack. That is the only
type of container I've ever ruined in the machine as they are not made to be
washed.


Most still use the folded paper with wire hanger, and some a heavy tin
foil bottom with a clear plastic top, but the two nearest me use high
quality, clearly re-usable,

They are not made for re-use, but some can be. Consider it a bonus as the
original design is disposable.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
My water suppply is cold and it has a built-in heater, on my 31-year
old Kenmore/Whirlpool machine.

Sounds icky. Does it really get hot enough on every cycle? Most
have a heater just to boost, not to heat.


The ones I've seen just delay the cycle until the water is up to temp. The
colder the water, the longer the cycle.

On Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:54:49 -0500, mm wrote:

What does it mean when it does NOT say Top Rack Only?

I have more plastic stuff to wash in the dishwasher than I used to and
have often run out of space in the top rack, while the bottom rack
might be half empty.

Things used to say Top Rack Only. If it doesn't say that, does it
mean the bottom rack is okay too?

The heater used in the dry cycle gets very hot and will melt plastic. During
the water heating cycle it doesn't get as hot.

(And btw, has it ever been that much hotter on the bottom rack?)

If you have a drying cycle selected it can.

snip

On Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:48:43 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:

?
"mm" wrote in message news:
What does it mean when it does NOT say Top Rack Only?

I have more plastic stuff to wash in the dishwasher than I used to and
have often run out of space in the top rack, while the bottom rack
might be half empty.

Things used to say Top Rack Only. If it doesn't say that, does it
mean the bottom rack is okay too?

I've always put plastic on the bottom. Never had a problem with any of it
in my KA machines over the years. Mostly it is stuff fro either
Rubbermaid, Tupper, or some cheaper clones. Never melted any.

This is all good to hear.

My water suppply is cold and it has a built-in heater, on my 31-year
old Kenmore/Whirlpool machine.

Sounds icky. Does it really get hot enough on every cycle?

I think so. I almost never use it more than one cycle at a time.

Most have a
heater just to boost, not to heat.

When I bought the house I read the instruction manual, but I doubt I
checked if it was connected to the right water pipe. Now that whole
home appliance file folder is missing, but I'll check when I find it.

Once when it turned out a chicken bone (the thin one next to the
drumstick) was keeping the machine from draining (amazingly. It was
in the anti-siphon thing, and somehow because of that little bone, the
machine wouldn't drain), once when I was trying to fix it, I kept
running it through the same part-cycle over and over and the water got
so hot it got so hot, a plastic salad bowl bent.

It might work like BobF says. I don't pay attention to how long it
takes. I do try to note when it finishes because I open the door,
pull out the racks and try to use the heat to dry off the dishes.

I'm thinking specifically of

The tall plastic glasses made 20 and 30 years ago with inner and outer
pieces and air in between, that is, thermal plastic glasses and cups.

Amazing they lasted that long under any circumstances. Usually the seal
goes and they take on water.

That has happened to most of the cups, but I use the tall ones very
little. I still like them a lot though.

The plastic ice cube hopper that came with the fridge 30 years ago.

Never washed a tray that I recall, but should be good to go.

Okay.

The plastic containers that some Chinese takeout places use this year.

Many of them will melt in hot enough water on any rack. That is the only
type of container I've ever ruined in the machine as they are not made to be
washed.

Okay.

Most still use the folded paper with wire hanger, and some a heavy tin
foil bottom with a clear plastic top, but the two nearest me use high
quality, clearly re-usable,

They are not made for re-use, but some can be. Consider it a bonus as the
original design is disposable.

Okay.

KRW said:

(And btw, has it ever been that much hotter on the bottom rack?)

If you have a drying cycle selected it can.

Oh, that's what they're talking about. I never saw much point to the
dryer, and I've never used it. It might melt the plastic parts! Oh,
this is where I came in.

There is a switch on the door to turn off the dish dryer heater, but
the words that say which position is which are gone. I'm very careful
not to touch the switch. :-) If I ever have the door apart, I'll
disconnect the switch. (All the other markings around the knob are
still there, but they are written on metal. I think the two dryer
words and most of the brand name were written on plastic, and though I
never used cleanser, even plain water on a paper towel might have
taken them off after 20 years.)

Thanks a lot, and thanks to BobF, Met, and Krw.

?
"ktos" wrote in message
eb.com...
You have too much stuff. Give some of it away.

Most people don't know, but there is NO limit on how much you can take with
you. Honest.

On Jan 21, 10:54*pm, mm wrote:
What does it mean when it does NOT say Top Rack Only?

I have more plastic stuff to wash in the dishwasher than I used to and
have often run out of space in the top rack, while the bottom rack
might be half empty.

Things used to say Top Rack Only. * *If it doesn't say that, does it
mean the bottom rack is okay too? *

(And btw, has it ever been that much hotter on the bottom rack?) *

My water suppply is cold and it has a built-in heater, on my 31-year
old Kenmore/Whirlpool machine.

I'm thinking specifically of

The tall plastic glasses made 20 and 30 years ago with inner and outer
pieces and air in between, that is, thermal plastic glasses and cups.

I can't speak to these as I have none.

The plastic ice cube hopper that came with the fridge 30 years ago. *

I would read the owners manual for the fridge and/or ice maker. My
guess is that they didn't waste the money to imprint them since they
are not something that gets wash all that often. Printing the
instructions in a book is cheaper than imprinting each piece.

Moderately stiff, not vinyl, plastic ice cube trays, two of which came
with the fridge 30 years ago, and two of which were bought 5 years
ago.

I can't speak to these as I have none. If I did, I would put mine on
the top rack since I wouldn't to take a chance on them melting. I've
had stuff melt in the dishwasher (and an electric stove). It's not
pretty. Better safe than sorry.

The plastic containers that some Chinese takeout places use this year.

Since these are sold to commercial places that don't have to wash
them, the manufacturer probably doesn't care what happens to the
containers once they reach the "end user".

I always put mine on the top rack since I don't want to take a chance
on them melting. Better safe than sorry.

Most still use the folded paper with wire hanger, and some a heavy tin
foil bottom with a clear plastic top, but the two nearest me use high
quality, clearly re-usable, with tight-fitting tops, not as flexible
as tupperware and maybe one step down in cost or quality. *(I could go
ask them, but I've switched from one to the other, so I don't want to
go into the first one, and I'm on a non-Chinese takeout diet for a
month)

Nothing on any of these about Top Rack Only.

Thanks for any info.

On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:47:43 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:

?
"ktos" wrote in message
web.com...
You have too much stuff. Give some of it away.

Most people don't know, but there is NO limit on how much you can take with
you. Honest.

I'm building myself a double-wide coffin for the extra storage space.

On Jan 22, 6:59*pm, mm wrote:
On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:47:43 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"

wrote:
?
"ktos" wrote in message
web.com...
You have too much stuff. *Give some of it away.

Most people don't know, but there is NO limit on how much you can take with
you. Honest.

I'm building myself a double-wide coffin for the extra storage space.

I having a double-wide urn made. I'll be taking my stuff with me, and
in the same condition as me.

On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:10:10 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Jan 22, 6:59*pm, mm wrote:
On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:47:43 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"

wrote:
?
"ktos" wrote in message
web.com...
You have too much stuff. *Give some of it away.

Most people don't know, but there is NO limit on how much you can take with
you. Honest.

I'm building myself a double-wide coffin for the extra storage space.

I having a double-wide urn made. I'll be taking my stuff with me, and
in the same condition as me.

That's a good idea.

I have a laptop and a wifi receiver with a special ground-penetrating
amplifier. Three percent of the second half of the coffin is devoted
to movie DVDs. I coudl save space if I used solidstate storage, but I
don't think it will last for eternity.

On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:10:10 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Jan 22, 6:59*pm, mm wrote:
On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:47:43 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"

wrote:
?
"ktos" wrote in message
web.com...
You have too much stuff. *Give some of it away.

Most people don't know, but there is NO limit on how much you can take with
you. Honest.

I'm building myself a double-wide coffin for the extra storage space.

I having a double-wide urn made. I'll be taking my stuff with me, and
in the same condition as me.

And my coffin is a little higher too, so I can lie on my side to watch
the videos.