Washing number plates in a dishwasher

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Washing number plates in a dishwasher - yes or no?

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#2039427 18-Jun-2018 09:33

Lias:
I've run motorcycle parts through the dishwasher at work before.. I did get told off by the office ladies but they came out clean and shiny :-)

I used to put cast iron manifolds in the oven when I lived it home pre and post welding them - definitly could only do it when the old lady wasn't home!

tdgeek

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#2039429 18-Jun-2018 09:34

Fred99:

tdgeek:

Fred99:

sbiddle:

There is no way I'd want to wash something covered in hydrocarbons in a dishwasher that I then put things in that I eat from!

I'd be more squeamish about the collection of insect parts and dried road-kill juice.

Actually come to think of it, for anybody with personalised plates, I suggest they best lick them clean with their tongue.

My one, that's not on the car anymore is NICEA ! For sale too

What - the 1983 Honda or the plate?

The Prelude is long gone (spoiler kits and all) it was then on a Mitsi GTO Twin Turbo, that's also gone, the plate isn't suitable for an Accord Euro!

The plate is for sale, although haven't make any effort to sell it, but unless I win Lotto I dont see my Viper RT10 anytime soon

frankv

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#2039614 18-Jun-2018 12:55

I'd use a dishwasher if I cared enough to clean my number plates. But definitely no dishwasher powder. That's very alkaline.

Who knows... the boiling water might affect the plastic coating, so they'd be less reflective to lasers? ;)

MikeAqua

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#2039656 18-Jun-2018 13:09

Varkk:

Dishwasher is for food related items only.

I saw a doco on a brothel and you would be horrified by what they put through their dishwasher.

Presumably on a separate cycle from cups etc ...

Mike

Fred99

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#2039687 18-Jun-2018 13:12

I don't think modern dishwasher powder/tablets are caustic enough to be a problem to aluminium alloys.

OTOH I knew someone who used to work at the naval dockyard at Devonport. An apprentice painter had removed some aluminium lockers from one of our navy boats, without asking dunked them in the huge caustic paint-stripping tanks they had set up. He first insisted that someone had stolen them overnight, then accused the tradesmen painters of playing tricks on him. AFAIK the lockers have never been found.

MikeAqua

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#2039691 18-Jun-2018 13:26

Fred99:

I don't think modern dishwasher powder/tablets are caustic enough to be a problem to aluminium alloys.

We have a cast alloy ice cream scoop (age unknown as purchased 2nd hand). Dishwasher made it go black with ?oxide?. It took ages with the dremel to polish off the oxide or whatever it was.

Mike

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#2039868 18-Jun-2018 16:01

I'll remember not to put any of the Range Rover body panels in there if it treats aluminium so badly!

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Dairyxox

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#2039873 18-Jun-2018 16:10

If I ever meet you IRL, remind me to give you stick about this post.

mattwnz

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#2039874 18-Jun-2018 16:11

I never put anything that is printed in the dishwater, as printing always fades or discolours over time.

MikeB4

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#2039882 18-Jun-2018 16:17

Clean them with Methylated Spirits

Sidestep

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#2040128 19-Jun-2018 01:17

Ge0rge:

I used to put cast iron manifolds in the oven when I lived it home pre and post welding them - definitly could only do it when the old lady wasn't home!

Ha - yes, preheat recipe calls for baking that manifold for 55 minutes at 250 C while trying to suck the oil smoke out with the extractor fan..

A good quality Kitchen oven's also a good place to dry those welding rods, and of course to sweat headlights apart, soften various plastics..

Batman

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#2040141 19-Jun-2018 06:42

There are many things you can do in life. But just because you can, should you? Unless it's time for a new dishwasher ...

SepticSceptic

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#2040585 19-Jun-2018 15:51

Batman: There are many things you can do in life. But just because you can, should you? Unless it's time for a new dishwasher ...

A friend of mine who worked with industrial electronics had worked on some equipment that measures carbon black for car tyres, in a silicone oil solution.

That mixture makes a mess that most solvents can't remove, so he decided to give his carbon-silicone coated tools them a blast in the dishwasher.

Needless to say, there was a residual film of carbon black and silicone oil all thru the dishwasher, and no amount of hot wash cycles could effectively dislodge the muck.

At least his wife got a brand spanking new dishwasher ....

Geektastic

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#2040825 20-Jun-2018 05:57

MikeB4:
Clean them with Methylated Spirits

That works? OK. I have some of that for my Trangia stove, so I can try that.

SATTV

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#2040843 20-Jun-2018 07:51

I know I am late to the party but if you put the plates in the dishwasher I would expect that they would come out stripped of all paint.

A couple of years ago when we got our fist dishwasher and we put a pan in dishdraw for the first time and it did a great job of the inside but removed all the black paint from the outside and was bright and shiny.

Personally when I change cars I get new personalised plates minted, last time was about $20 but the company has changed since then and I dont know what they charge to remake them.

John

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