3 Tips to Keep Dishwasher-Safe Plastic Glasses Looking Good

ByKrista Fabregas

If your dishwasher-safe plastic glasses come out of the wash looking cloudy or cracked, you’re not alone. Many newer (and especially high-end) dishwashers can be far tougher on plastic than older models. What gives?

If you’re quick to point a finger at makers of plastic glasses for mislabeling their products, it’s not that simple. It’s not the plastic glasses that are necessarily faulty. Dishwashers have changed greatly in the past decade due to the EPA’s Energy Star guidelines for energy-efficient appliances. But we have a few tips to help ensure your dishwasher-safe plastic glasses deliver years of service.

Tip 1: Pick the Best Type of Dishwasher-Safe Plastic Glasses

Not all plastics are created equal. Plastic glasses and dishes made from melamine, SAN, polypropylene, Tritan, or polycarbonate are better choices than acrylic for lasting good looks. In fact, glasses made from these dishwasher-safe plastics are often found in busy restaurants since they can withstand commercial dishwasher temperatures up to 155 degrees.

Top Picks for Dishwasher-Safe Plastic Glasses

Tip 2: Look for Plastic Glasses Made from SAN Plastic

If you have an Energy-Star or high-end dishwasher (like Bosch, Miele, etc.), look for plastic glasses made from SAN plastic. SAN tends to withstand higher dishwasher temperatures the best without cracking or crazing. This is why SAN plastic drinkware is commonly used in busy restaurants and bars.

Top Picks for Dishwasher-Safe Plastic Glasses in SAN Plastic

Tip 3: Check Your Dishwasher Settings

Dishwashers draw hot water directly from a home’s water heater, which is usually set around 140 degrees F. Though too hot for most household needs, 140 degrees is the optimal cleaning temperature recommended by most dishwasher detergents – and is undamaging to most “top rack dishwasher-safe” plastic drinkware.

Energy Star-rated dishwashers feature built-in water heaters that further heat wash and rinse cycle water by as much as 30 degrees. Since incoming water no longer needs to be so hot, home water heaters can be lowered to an energy-saving 115 or 120 degrees, which is fine for other household uses.

Unfortunately, the home’s water heater setting is often overlooked when a new dishwasher is installed. And while a 30-degree increase doesn’t sound like a lot, it can be enough to breach the heat tolerance of many typically dishwasher-safe plastics.

How to Keep Dishwasher-Safe Plastic Glasses Looking Good

If you have high-end and/or Energy Star-rated dishwashers, check your user manual for wash setting water temperatures. If possible, wash plastic tableware on an unheated setting so incoming hot water will not be overheated. If no unheated option exists, check the home’s water heater. If set around 140-degrees, lower it to 120-degrees, so the final water temperature in the dishwasher won’t top the 150-degree mark.

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