Our dishwashers are one of our most desired kitchen appliances when it comes time for clean-up. Although it's not a necessary appliance, many of us have them to ease our workload. We love not having to handwash every dish, utensil and pan. In fact, some are tempted, or even try, using the dishwasher to clean other objects around the home. Some of these items are okay to clean in the dishwasher but there are definite things you shouldn't put in the dishwasher.

It would seem that the dishwasher could clean anything that could fit in it. And, there are non-dishware items that many people do clean in the dishwasher like silicone oven mitts, vases, switch plates or kids' bath toys, and these are all okay. However, there are other things that could damage either the dishwasher itself or the item that you want to clean.  Caterpillar Rigid Shaft Seal

To save yourself some heartache from inadvertently damaging any of your valuables, we've put together a list of some of the things that you should never put in the dishwasher. Here are 20 things that might be the most tempting to put in the dishwasher but should be avoided at all costs.

Related: Which Uses More Water: A Dishwasher or Doing Dishes by Hand?

After having guests over for a fancy dinner, it can be really tempting to throw the fine china into the dishwasher. However, this could be detrimental to any antique, hand-painted or metal-rimmed dishes. They could easily fade from the high heat of the dishwasher or chip from clinking against other items.

Delicate crystal also runs the risk of chipping in the dishwasher. The hot water is not a friend to crystal and could cause chipping or cracking.

The thin plastic of a takeout container can easily melt from the high heat used in both the wash and dry cycles of the dishwasher. Although thicker plastics like bath toys could be safe, thin plastic is more likely to melt.

Related: Why Doesn't Plastic Dry in the Dishwasher?

Forget about throwing that wooden cutting board or wooden utensils in the dishwasher. Long exposure to high heat and moisture will cause the wood to warp and splinter.

Cast iron pans or kettles should never be put in the dishwasher because the detergent will cause the cast iron to rust. Not only that, the necessary seasoning of a cast iron pan will be removed in the dishwasher.

Related: If You've Got a Dirty Cast Iron Skillet, Here's Exactly How to (And More Importantly, How Not To!) Clean It

The high temperature and moisture of the dishwasher will also damage knives very quickly. Plus, the water jets can cause the knives to move around and clink against other items which can damage the edge.

Don't pop your mug in the dishwasher to clean it. It could damage the seal and cause the mug to not be airtight anymore. Also, water can seep between the inner and outer layers of insulation causing mold to grow. 

The dishwasher will cause a copper finish to tarnish or dull from the harsh washing. To preserve the pretty finish, hand wash instead. The same is true for any aluminum cookware.

Non-stick pans shouldn't be cleaned in the dishwasher because it will take away the protective coating of the pans. The salt, detergent and water pressure are what damage the coating.

Dishwasher detergent and gold plating do not go together. The detergent will cause dark spots on your beautiful flatware that can't be removed.

Related: Stainless Steel Pans Definitely Get Stained and Sticky, so Here’s How To Clean Yours

Leaky Valve Seals If you want to keep the intended function of your measuring cups, don't put them in the dishwasher. The high heat and harsh detergent will remove the printed measurements on the cups, making them useless.