Drip tray in dishwasher?

[Richard]

I have always handwashed my LaSpaz drip tray.... it definitely gets cruddy.

I can't speak to the dishwasher because I have never done so. When inclined to clean a drip tray, I sprinkle Purocaf, Cafiza, etc., into the tray, run hot water in it, and let it stand awhile.

[coffeeowl]

I rinse mine with RO water (non-mineralised clear RO water).

[chas]

I share Richard's cleaning method! However, I don't think there would be any problem using the dishwasher. If you use heated drying better stick with the upper rack only.

[Weska]

More or less my approach too. After my weekly Cafiza soak of the pf, screen, and dispersion, the used solution goes to sit a while in my drip tray.

I've always felt that the detergent in Cafiza is probably about the same as in dishwasher powder. I still have to brush around all the details in the drip tray to clean out accumulated coffee paste. It's a nuisance.

Tell you what, TomP10. Wife and I were out at a restaurant tonight and the dishwasher has a smaller than usual load. I'll put my tray in the dishwasher tonight and see what happens. I'll report tomorrow. (Least I can do for your triple kindnesses.)

[chas]

More or less my approach too. After my weekly Cafiza soak of the pf, screen, and dispersion, the used solution goes to sit a while in my drip tray.

Exactly! No need to let that used solution go to waste.

[Niko]

The only thing that worries me about sticking the tray in the dishwasher is the Vivaldi sticker peeling off.
I also let the used Cafiza detergent sit in there a while after backflushing, it's hard to believe all the gunk that comes out.

[chas]

Good point. I forgot about that being a stick on. So dishwasher bad. Cafiza soak good!

[Weska]

Reporting back, I can say that the drip tray survives one exposure in the dishwasher with complete aplomb.

I too thought about the glued on emblem losing its grip because of all the heat, but then I remembered the glue on the pf handles that are continuously heated. I also figured that a real restaurant or cafe would be inclined to throw everything in their much more violent and hotter pro dishwashers--especially just before any announced visit by the health inspectors. In the worst case, I could always glue it back on. I was more worried about warping or melting.

Anyhow, I put the tray through my next to hottest cycle (65 C. or about 125 F.) and on the bottom shelf. (In for a penny, in for a pound.) No detaching emblem, no surface changes (except for being wildly cleaner), no warping.

However, those little reinforcing ridges molded in the bottom are now cleaner than they have been since the machine was new. And the metal rack is also clean in all its little joints. As usual the dishwasher can wash cleaner than you can by hand.

All in all, the dishwasher treatment is recommended, at least for an occasional deep cleaning, and I think I will make that part of my routine whenever I have a light load. There doesn't seem to be any argument against cleaning the metal rack in the dishwasher, and I can't think of another way--short of power tools--to do such a good job.

[coffeeowl]

Well, you guys must have had a good laughing after reading my RO water comment Yesterday evening I got inspired enough to look at the drip tray more closely... and yes, it needed cleaning :) to my surprise!!! (with the Saeco I just never cleaned the drip tray only rinsed it, for more then a year... )

[Niko]

Anyhow, I put the tray through my next to hottest cycle (65 C. or about 125 F.)

The drip tray could withstand much more than that, I assume it can handle over 200F since the hot water tap comes out hotter than that.