Expert issues warning over 'genius’ dishwasher hack that’s caused controversy online

An expert has issued a warning over a bizarre dishwasher hack that’s been doing the rounds on social media recently, saying there’s one very good reason not to try it – even if some people are raving about the ‘genius’ idea.

We're always on the lookout for household shortcuts that will make cleaning feel like less of a chore, whether it’s a more efficient way to clean our air fryer or a method of getting difficult stains out of something.

But some aren't always as useful as they first appear, often allowing us to cut corners in the first instance, only to find bigger problems creep in further down the line.

Strangely, there’s been a lot of dishwasher chat online over the past few weeks – specifically, how they can be used to box off a kitchen job with minimal effort.

But is it actually creating more problems than it’s solving?

Kitchen hacks sometimes aren't as good as they seem (Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Getty Images)

The hack is pretty simple, as it just sees you use your dishwasher to... wash your fruit and veg. Some suggest it works fine so long as you make sure you run the cycle on a cold wash.

But does it really serve as well as some people say it does?

The debate fired up when TikToker Lara @larad_official posted a video of her mother loading up the dishwasher with a variety of fruit and veg, including carrots, celery, tomato and dragon fruit.

When a confused Lara tells her the dishwasher is for, well, dishes, her mum replies: “No, it can clean my vegetable and fruit with vinegar.

"I think I feel more clean because so many people are touching [the produce].”

In a later video, her mum opens the dishwasher to reveal fruit and veg that looks clean, with Lara saying nothing looks ‘smushed’, either.

But while some people commented to say the idea was ‘genius’, others weren’t convinced.

“The tomatoes would disintegrate even with cold water,” one argued.

“The pressure would destroy them. Potatoes would probably be OK; everything else would be ruined.”

Over on Facebook group Mums Who Clean, one woman also asked: “Morning all, has anyone ever tried washing potatoes or fruit in the dishwasher in rinse mode only?”

The bizarre dishwasher hack has proven divisive (Malikov Aleksandr/Getty Images)

While someone just suggested buying ‘washed potatoes’ for ease, someone else advised: “I wouldn't with potatoes because the dishwasher would be full of dirt.”

Now an expert from the US’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has settled the debate once and for all, telling Today why they wouldn’t recommend it.

The unnamed FDA official said: “The FDA does not recommend utilizing kitchen appliances, such as the dishwasher, to wash produce safely and effectively.

“The FDA only recommends washing produce thoroughly under running water.”

As for specifically popping produce through the dishwasher, they continued: “The main concern is the introduction of residual chemical contaminants from detergents and rinse aids into the pores and natural crevices of the produce.”

They said people may prefer to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean brush if needed.

Luke LaBorde, a Professor of Food Science at Penn State University, also agrees it’s not the best idea.

However, he argues it’s not necessarily because it’s ‘harmful’, but just a bit useless.

“It could reduce soil deposits, but most dishwashers recirculate the water, making it unlikely to reduce harmful or spoilage microbes,” LaBorde told Today, explaining how most often harmful microbes are not the only potential issue with unwashed produce.

He added: “There is a variety of vegetables; some don’t need much washing, others such as root crops could require more vigorous cleaning.

“Cool running water from the faucet is the recommendation for cleaning produce in the kitchen.”