# Cat box in dishwasher **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137 "2011-05-08T06:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/41 "2011-05-09T03:52:56Z")
I am not a germaphobe by any stretch of the imagination, but the thought of cat box in dishwasher makes me throw up in my mouth a little. I also got pissed that my tenant soaked her filthy crusty dishes in the bathroom sink one day. Toilet functions for humans or animals are not to be near food nor food containing vessels. ---
**Author:** ![RedWood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RedWood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedWood)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/42 "2011-05-09T04:03:04Z")
Dishwasher?? /me sings: “No! No! A Thousand Times No!” cats expect the box to smell… well, like a catbox. Bleach? Why? as long as you scoop every day, it will not have that ammonia smell. Occasionally, I take the box outside, hose it until it’s clean, and dry it in the sun. ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/43 "2011-05-09T05:41:07Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Please tell me that she does not work in a restaurant. No. But remember, there is no right or wrong answer to this. It just makes people a little coo-coo. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/44 "2011-05-09T09:17:52Z")
> [@RedWood](#): > > Bleach? Why? > > \ > > Occasionally, I take the box outside, hose it until it’s clean, and dry it in the sun. I used to take it outside and hose it down a couple of times a year, but since I am in an apartment at this time, that isn’t possible. Besides, my current cat really loves (for some strange reason) the smell of bleach. So it is a positive for her. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/45 "2011-05-09T10:01:48Z")
I just take the empty litter box into the shower with me. Easy way to get it clean, when needed. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/46 "2011-05-09T11:47:33Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > No. > > But remember, there is no right or wrong answer to this. It just makes people a little coo-coo. Actually there is a right answer, which is “cat shit does not go in the dishwasher.” I am happy to be able to clear that up. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/47 "2011-05-09T12:05:59Z")
Cat Box in the Dishwasher? Is Heisenberg _drowning_ his cat now? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/48 "2011-05-09T12:14:29Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Cat Box in the Dishwasher? > Is Heisenberg _drowning_ his cat now? I dunno, let’s check with his pal Schrodinger. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/49 "2011-05-09T12:34:39Z")
ARE YOU CRAZY? There’s no way in hell a cat is going to be able to open one of those heavy dishwasher doors. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/50 "2011-05-09T12:52:43Z")
> [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](#): > > Toilet functions for humans or animals are not to be near food nor food containing vessels. > [@Vashbul](#): > > But remember, there is no right or wrong answer to this. It just makes people a little coo-coo. Mona Lisa Simpson has already given you the correct answer. It’s not an issue of coo-coo; it’s an issue of ca-ca. The further you keep shit from your mouth, the better. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/51 "2011-05-09T13:08:50Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > don’t pee in the sink This is okay in an emergency! ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/52 "2011-05-09T14:06:09Z")
A litter box in the dishwasher is about the grossest thing I’ve heard of in a while. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/53 "2011-05-09T15:11:48Z")
Kind of a related question: what about washing dishes in the toilet? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/54 "2011-05-09T15:19:22Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Kind of a related question: what about washing dishes in the toilet? Honestly, that grosses me out even less than the cat box in the dishwasher! ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/55 "2011-05-09T15:57:24Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > I have been asked to collect opinions on the idea of using your dishwasher to wash a cat litter box. > > Let’s assume the dishwasher is a good model that uses very hot water and is effective at removing dried food from dishes. Also that the type of litter used is not a factor, that you will dispose of it by dumping it in a garbage bag and there’s no chance it will clog up the plumbing, so the only thing the dishwasher has to deal with is residue - ‘matter’ of the sort one usually finds in a used cat box. > > Who would do this? Who would find it unsavory? Your thoughts. Who would do this? Yeah, that’s my question. “‘matter’ of the sort one usually finds in a used cat box” is cat shit and dried cat piss. How about instead of the cat box, you just throw a cat turd in the dishwasher and run it through a cycle. Would you ever want to wash dishes in that machine again? I know I wouldn’t. If it’s not convenient to hose off the cat box at home, I’d take it to a DIY carwash place and blast it clean from a safe distance (so as to not get hit with backsplash). ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/56 "2011-05-09T16:48:07Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Mona Lisa Simpson has already given you the correct answer. > > It’s not an issue of coo-coo; it’s an issue of ca-ca. The further you keep shit from your mouth, the better. Well who could disagree, but when I say it makes people coo-coo, I mean that no one ever died from ingesting a few undetectable molecules of sterilized cat doodoo. Similarly, no one ever got sick because they didn’t sterilize their cat box instead of just giving it a good rinse-out. But people (I include myself here) have visceral reactions to the _idea_ of certain things, divorced from the reality of it. I won’t eat popcorn my mom serves in a certain stainless steel bowl, because forty years ago I threw up in that bowl as a sick-a-bed. To me, it will always be the “throw-up bowl”. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/57 "2011-05-09T16:55:27Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Well who could disagree, but when I say it makes people coo-coo, I mean that no one ever died from ingesting a few undetectable molecules of sterilized cat doodoo. Similarly, no one ever got sick because they didn’t sterilize their cat box instead of just giving it a good rinse-out. I have no idea how you can make a blanket statement like this. Can you account for the source of every single instance of intestinal distress or other illness you’ve ever had in your life? I can’t. I also have my doubts about exactly how “sterilized” a wet piece of leftover cat shit in the bottom of your dishwasher really is. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/58 "2011-05-09T17:04:51Z")
Hail no. Why would a litter box even need to get that clean? ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/59 "2011-05-09T20:48:14Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I have no idea how you can make a blanket statement like this. Can you account for the source of every single instance of intestinal distress or other illness you’ve ever had in your life? I can’t. But then, can you vouch for the poo-freeness of everything - every piece of processed food, every restaurant meal - you’ve willingly ingested? People get sick, but usually the cause of it is hard to pinpoint. That’s why we \*have \*blanket statements. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137/60 "2011-05-09T21:31:40Z")
I am not a germophobe. My house is not anywhere near what you’d call antiseptic. My bathroom is, at the moment, in pretty severe need of a cleaning. I have seven cats, all of whom are spoiled rotten and all of whom I love dearly. Catbox in the dishwasher? To quote some earlier posters, “HELL no!” That’s thoroughly disgusting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-box-in-dishwasher/581137.md?page=4)