Bowls and feeding gear
Can I put my dog's bowl in the dishwasher?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes for dishwasher safe stainless steel and many glazed ceramic bowls, and a hot cycle actually kills more bacteria than hand washing in lukewarm water. Most plastic bowls should stay out, since heat can warp them or wear down the surface faster, and rubber or silicone mats and bases are usually safer on the top rack only.
What handles a hot cycle well
Stainless steel is essentially dishwasher proof and comes out fully sanitized after a hot cycle, which is hard to match by hand. Glazed ceramic without cracks or chips also does well, though a hairline crack can let water seep in and eventually loosen the glaze over repeated cycles.
What to run more carefully, or skip
Many plastic bowls are not built for sustained high heat and can warp or develop a cloudy, scratched surface faster in a dishwasher than by hand. Silicone or rubber mats and bases usually tolerate the dishwasher fine but do best on the top rack, away from direct contact with the heating element.
How to check before you run one
Flip the bowl over and look for a small dishwasher safe symbol, usually a plate icon with water lines, stamped or molded into the base. If there is no marking and the bowl is plastic, hand washing with hot soapy water is the safer default.
Keeping pet and human dishes separate in the machine
Many households run pet bowls in the same load as human dishes without any issue, since the hot cycle sanitizes everything inside. If you would rather keep them apart, running pet bowls as their own quick load, or placing them on a separate rack section, is an easy way to do that without needing a second machine or a special detergent. A short, high heat cycle without an extended pre soak is usually enough, and there is no need to hand scrub a bowl first, since scraping off loose food before loading is all the machine typically needs to finish the job properly.
Key takeaways
- Stainless steel and most glazed ceramic bowls are dishwasher safe and get more thoroughly sanitized on a hot cycle.
- Plastic bowls often warp or scratch faster in a dishwasher and are better hand washed.
- Silicone or rubber mats usually do fine on the top rack, away from the heating element.
- Check the base for a dishwasher safe symbol before assuming any bowl can go in.