Answers.Body: <p>I have washed thousands of Lego and Duplo bricks in the washing machine as per the suggestion of Lego Store staff that have kid's events. The Lego stores use washing machines. None of by bricks have warped. I use warm water wash on gentle cycle, and I soak them by lifting up the lid. I add about a half cup of chlorine to a load to disinfect the bricks as I have many different kids playing with the bricks. </p>
  
  <p>I purchase washing machine nylon net bags at the dollar store, and put the bricks in the bags. Equipment bags also work well. Do not wash small items that can poke through the netting holes, and especially leaves that get stuck in the small holes of the nylon net bags and rip them apart - those I wash and disinfect in the sink. There are all sorts of strainers available for you to use to fish out the parts from a sink.</p>
  
  <p>I throw Duplo bricks without bags or nets directly into the washing machine, as they are huge, and I shovel them out using a huge draining spoon also purchased at the dollar store. I have over a thousand Duplo bricks and so far not one has been damaged. Stickers are another story. Some are affected, some are not.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-09-09T22:17:14.053Z
Answers.Text: How about printed Duplo bricks?
Answers.UserDisplayName: O. R. Mapper
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-23T00:02:00.360Z
Answers.Text: I have a front loaded washing machine, it sounds like you have a top loaded machine that can be opened during a wash cycle. Do you think the different action would scratch the bricks more?
Answers.UserDisplayName: ketil
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-11-19T21:53:04.273Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-11-19T21:53:04.273Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Wolly
Answers.Body: <p>LEGO does not recommend using a dishwasher to clean your bricks:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>We recommend that you clean or wash your LEGO parts only by hand at max. 40°C or 104 degrees (F) Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may affect the quality of the LEGO parts. You can add a mild detergent to the water, followed by rinsing with clear water. <strong>Please don't put your bricks in the washing machine or dishwasher or attempt to dry them in ovens, microwaves or with hair dryers</strong>. Any electrical parts, such as cables, motors, battery compartments, can only be wiped off with alcohol. Air-dry parts at room temperature. For disinfecting please use mild bleach.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>(emphasis mine)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T20:51:21.340Z
Answers.Text: I can vouch for this first hand - even hand hot water can warp bricks!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Umber Ferrule
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T20:41:38.760Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-27T03:04:37.557Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2011-10-27T03:04:37.557Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.Body: <p>At some point, LEGO recommended the use of a washing machine instead of a dishwasher, since you could limit the temperature to 40°. However, you'll need to make sure all parts are safely enclosed in a cloth (pillow case for example), and don't expect your bricks not to be scratched at all.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-27T04:38:20.063Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-27T04:38:20.063Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.Body: <p>The real answer here is no, but please have a look at <strong><a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/83/how-to-minimise-or-remove-sun-stains-fading-from-blocks/99#99">my answer</a></strong> to this other question for an alternative that really works, bringing them up as new, with only a little elbow grease - a bath of Milton solution.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:22:17.577Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-25T21:22:17.577Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-04-13T12:47:56.390Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rory Alsop
Answers.Body: <p>I would not recommend using a dishwasher. I have seen terribly worn bricks with a very ugly, dull surface as a result of multiple dishwasher procedures. Sometimes you can notice that a dishwasher etches even a glass surface.</p>
  
  <p>The damage could probably be caused by a combination of the water properties, detergent being used, and temperature.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-07T13:38:34.017Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-08T13:44:00.583Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-01-08T13:44:00.583Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: pabouk - Ukraine stay strong
Answers.Body: <p>Don't use the dishwasher. My husband misread washing machine and we put them in the dishwasher nearly half of them warped!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-25T14:23:58.573Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-05-25T16:12:15.717Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-05-25T16:12:15.717Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Susan Donald
Answers.Body: <p>I wouldn't recommend it, as I once received a large number of old (not sure how old) and dirty Lego pieces. My parents then preceded to put them in the dishwasher. Some of the parts, such as the standard bricks survived, but pieces such as plates became bent and warped. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-11-21T12:54:33.857Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-11-21T12:54:33.857Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: noided
Answers.Body: <p>Front load washers should be fine with the regular bricks as long as you use the gentle cycle. ABS plastic is tough.</p>
  
  <p>As for dishwashers, they have heating elements that heat the water to a temperature way beyond your water heater. Washing machines never get close to the temperature that dishwashers use. I never saw steam coming out of a washing machine but steam comes out of my dishwasher every time I open the door to it. That is a clue that water is close to the boiling point.</p>
  
  <p>If you are really worried then throw the bricks into a tub full of soapy water and let soak for 3 hours, mix it around, throw in a cup of bleach at the end, drain with strainer over drain hole.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-02-20T16:22:58.340Z
Answers.Text: The steam coming from the dishwasher is not because of the water temperature used for washing. It is because the dishwasher is using high air temperature to dry and so avoid traces. https://home.howstuffworks.com/dishwasher.htm Anyway, even if water is not boiling it is still too hot for bricks.
Answers.UserDisplayName: dolmen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-24T17:28:24.553Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-11-25T21:28:16.290Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-11-25T21:28:16.290Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Wol Bar
Answers.Body: <p>I have had good experiences when putting them into a <a href="http://www.google.com/search?um=1&amp;hl=en&amp;q=washing%20bag&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;sa=N&amp;tab=iw&amp;authuser=0">washing bag</a>. Stickers will usually come off. Paint differs from model, year and make. Some of my bricks from the 80'ies (<a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3039p11&amp;in=S">such as this one</a>) still look very new, with the original print intact.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-06-12T21:44:34.193Z
Answers.Text: I've used this method and had great results, that being said I don't use hot water, or dishwashing soap, just water.
Answers.UserDisplayName: dacopenhagen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T22:45:33.850Z
Answers.Text: People seem to belive it's not the recommended way to clean LEGO, but I appreciate having some first hand real world experience and will use this method for really old and stained pieces.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Reven
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T20:39:29.207Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-25T20:45:54.920Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2011-10-25T20:45:54.920Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Steen
Body: <p>I've heard from a lot of people that LEGO can be washed in the dishwasher, but I'm concerned about warping, losing stickers, wearing off of painted pieces, etc. Is it safe to actually wash them in the dishwasher? Is there any other precaution you should take?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T04:36:58.783Z
Comments.Text: See also [Lego cleaning techniques and tools](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/124/lego-cleaning-techniques-and-tools).
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dori
Tags: <cleaning>
Title: Is it safe to wash LEGO pieces in the dishwasher?
UserDisplayName: Reven
ThreadText: # Is it safe to wash LEGO pieces in the dishwasher?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-25)
  
  I've heard from a lot of people that LEGO can be washed in the dishwasher, but I'm concerned about warping, losing stickers, wearing off of painted pieces, etc. Is it safe to actually wash them in the dishwasher? Is there any other precaution you should take?
  
  **Tags:** cleaning
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: See also [Lego cleaning techniques and tools](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/124/lego-cleaning-techniques-and-tools).  
  
  ---
  
  ## 9 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_14 on 2011-10-25. Score: 14 | Accepted answer
  
  I have had good experiences when putting them into a [washing bag](http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&q=washing%20bag&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw&authuser=0). Stickers will usually come off. Paint differs from model, year and make. Some of my bricks from the 80'ies ([such as this one](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3039p11&in=S)) still look very new, with the original print intact.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: People seem to belive it's not the recommended way to clean LEGO, but I appreciate having some first hand real world experience and will use this method for really old and stained pieces.  
  > **username_15**: I've used this method and had great results, that being said I don't use hot water, or dishwashing soap, just water.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2011-10-25. Score: 23
  
  LEGO does not recommend using a dishwasher to clean your bricks:
  
  > We recommend that you clean or wash your LEGO parts only by hand at max. 40°C or 104 degrees (F) Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may affect the quality of the LEGO parts. You can add a mild detergent to the water, followed by rinsing with clear water. **Please don't put your bricks in the washing machine or dishwasher or attempt to dry them in ovens, microwaves or with hair dryers**. Any electrical parts, such as cables, motors, battery compartments, can only be wiped off with alcohol. Air-dry parts at room temperature. For disinfecting please use mild bleach.
  
  (emphasis mine)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: I can vouch for this first hand - even hand hot water can warp bricks!  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2015-11-19. Score: 7
  
  I have washed thousands of Lego and Duplo bricks in the washing machine as per the suggestion of Lego Store staff that have kid's events. The Lego stores use washing machines. None of by bricks have warped. I use warm water wash on gentle cycle, and I soak them by lifting up the lid. I add about a half cup of chlorine to a load to disinfect the bricks as I have many different kids playing with the bricks.
  
  I purchase washing machine nylon net bags at the dollar store, and put the bricks in the bags. Equipment bags also work well. Do not wash small items that can poke through the netting holes, and especially leaves that get stuck in the small holes of the nylon net bags and rip them apart - those I wash and disinfect in the sink. There are all sorts of strainers available for you to use to fish out the parts from a sink.
  
  I throw Duplo bricks without bags or nets directly into the washing machine, as they are huge, and I shovel them out using a huge draining spoon also purchased at the dollar store. I have over a thousand Duplo bricks and so far not one has been damaged. Stickers are another story. Some are affected, some are not.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: How about printed Duplo bricks?  
  > **username_4**: I have a front loaded washing machine, it sounds like you have a top loaded machine that can be opened during a wash cycle. Do you think the different action would scratch the bricks more?  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2011-10-27. Score: 6
  
  At some point, LEGO recommended the use of a washing machine instead of a dishwasher, since you could limit the temperature to 40°. However, you'll need to make sure all parts are safely enclosed in a cloth (pillow case for example), and don't expect your bricks not to be scratched at all.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2011-10-25. Score: 6
  
  The real answer here is no, but please have a look at **[my answer](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/83/how-to-minimise-or-remove-sun-stains-fading-from-blocks/99#99)** to this other question for an alternative that really works, bringing them up as new, with only a little elbow grease - a bath of Milton solution.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2014-01-07. Score: 4
  
  I would not recommend using a dishwasher. I have seen terribly worn bricks with a very ugly, dull surface as a result of multiple dishwasher procedures. Sometimes you can notice that a dishwasher etches even a glass surface.
  
  The damage could probably be caused by a combination of the water properties, detergent being used, and temperature.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_10 on 2015-05-25. Score: 3
  
  Don't use the dishwasher. My husband misread washing machine and we put them in the dishwasher nearly half of them warped!
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2015-11-21. Score: 2
  
  I wouldn't recommend it, as I once received a large number of old (not sure how old) and dirty Lego pieces. My parents then preceded to put them in the dishwasher. Some of the parts, such as the standard bricks survived, but pieces such as plates became bent and warped.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2018-11-24. Score: 2
  
  Front load washers should be fine with the regular bricks as long as you use the gentle cycle. ABS plastic is tough.
  
  As for dishwashers, they have heating elements that heat the water to a temperature way beyond your water heater. Washing machines never get close to the temperature that dishwashers use. I never saw steam coming out of a washing machine but steam comes out of my dishwasher every time I open the door to it. That is a clue that water is close to the boiling point.
  
  If you are really worried then throw the bricks into a tub full of soapy water and let soak for 3 hours, mix it around, throw in a cup of bleach at the end, drain with strainer over drain hole.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_13**: The steam coming from the dishwasher is not because of the water temperature used for washing. It is because the dishwasher is using high air temperature to dry and so avoid traces. https://home.howstuffworks.com/dishwasher.htm Anyway, even if water is not boiling it is still too hot for bricks.  
  
  ---
  
  