Let’s be honest—we’ve all had this moment. You finish cooking, you’re full, maybe a little tired, and now there’s a mountain of dishes staring you down. Your wooden spoon, spatula, or that fancy salad tong is sitting there with bits of food stuck to it. You look at your dishwasher and think, “Why not? It washes everything else… what’s the worst that could happen?”
Ah, the eternal kitchen question. Spoiler alert: the dishwasher isn’t the fairy godmother of wooden utensils. Here’s why.
Why dishwashers and wood just don’t mix
Okay, let’s break it down. Dishwashers are kind of intense. They spray scalding hot water, blast detergent, and finish off with heat to dry everything quickly. For glass or stainless steel, this is no problem. But for wood? Not so much.
Wood is like a sponge—it absorbs water, expands, and then shrinks back down when it dries. Toss it into the harsh environment of a dishwasher, and suddenly your spoon starts to warp, crack, or even split. That smooth finish you loved? Gone.
And don’t even get me started on bamboo. Yes, it’s tougher than regular wood, but it still hates the dishwasher. Over time, it’ll lose its shape and start looking rough.
“But it says dishwasher safe!” – Does it really?
Sometimes you’ll see wooden utensils with a label that says dishwasher safe. Don’t fall for it. Sure, they might survive a few cycles, but sooner or later, the dishwasher will win. It’ll strip the natural oils from the wood, leaving it dry, faded, and prone to damage.
Think of it like this: just because you can drive a car through a muddy field doesn’t mean you should do it every day. The same goes for your wooden tools.
So, what’s the best way to clean them?
Here’s the good news: hand washing wooden utensils is quick and easy. No, really—it takes less time than you think. Here’s the game plan:
Wash with mild soap and warm water. Avoid soaking.
Scrub gently with a sponge (skip the steel wool).
Rinse quickly and don’t leave them sitting in the sink.
Dry right away with a towel instead of air drying.
Oil them occasionally with food-safe mineral oil or even a little coconut oil to keep them from drying out.
Boom—your utensils stay smooth, clean, and in great shape.
Dealing with funky smells and stains?
Oh yeah, that’s a thing. Wooden spoons love to hold onto strong smells like garlic, onion, or curry. And tomato sauce stains? Classic. But don’t worry—there are hacks for that.
Try rubbing the spoon with a paste made of baking soda and water, let it sit a bit, then rinse. You can also use a slice of lemon to scrub and freshen things up. For extra stubborn smells, a quick wipe with white vinegar works wonders.
And if the wood is cracked or feels rough no matter what you do? It might be time to let it retire. Old, damaged wood can trap bacteria, and nobody wants that.
Imagine this…
Think about your wooden utensils like they’re your favorite leather shoes. You wouldn’t throw them in the washing machine, right? They need care. A little hand wash here, a bit of oil there, and they’ll last for years. Some people even keep wooden spoons passed down from their grandparents!
Treat them right, and they’ll stay in your kitchen arsenal for the long haul—always ready to stir, mix, and scrape like a pro.
So, can you put wooden utensils in the dishwasher? Technically, yes, the dishwasher won’t explode or anything. But should you? Nope. The heat, water, and detergent combo is just too harsh, and over time, it’ll ruin your utensils.
Hand washing might take a little extra effort, but trust me, it’s worth it. Your wooden tools will stay smooth, safe, and way prettier than if they lived through countless dishwasher cycles.
Got any cool cleaning tricks or a wooden spoon horror story (we’ve all got at least one)? Drop your tips—because hey, we’re all just trying to survive the kitchen one utensil at a time.
