# So, how do I get hardened chocolate off every bowl I own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808 "2008-02-15T22:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/21 "2008-02-17T12:58:59Z")
Stake them out over the local anthills and let the evil little bastards eat out their eyes before feasting on their chocolaty flesh. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/22 "2008-02-17T18:16:16Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] Toss them in the dishwasher and use the heavy duty hot cycle. [/QUOTE] From the OP: > [@](#): > > **when I was done, my hot water heater had gone bad** Unless they make a dishwasher that will let you boil water on top of the stove and then dump it in. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/23 "2008-02-17T19:39:56Z")
Don’t dishwashers have heating elements? I thought that’s what the metal loop at the bottom was. Or is that just used for drying, and not washing? ---
**Author:** ![Yag\_Rannavach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/858c86/32.png) [@Yag\_Rannavach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yag_Rannavach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/24 "2008-02-17T19:47:22Z")
Rent a dog that isn’t allergic to chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Montgomery0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Montgomery0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montgomery0)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/25 "2008-02-17T20:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=Yag Rannavach] Rent a dog that isn’t allergic to chocolate. [/QUOTE] On the slim chance that someone would actually consider this advice/joke; chocolate in large enough quantities will be toxic to most dogs. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/26 "2008-02-17T21:09:27Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] Don’t dishwashers have heating elements? I thought that’s what the metal loop at the bottom was. Or is that just used for drying, and not washing? [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s just for drying. Dishwashers and clothes washers don’t heat water themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/27 "2008-02-17T23:50:28Z")
Travel back in time and tread on the specific butterfly whose death will give rise to the chain of events that will render _Theobroma cacao_ extinct before humans arrive on the scene. Then return to the future and there will be no chocolate on your bowls. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/28 "2008-02-18T02:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=anson2995] Yes, it’s just for drying. Dishwashers and clothes washers don’t heat water themselves. [/QUOTE] Not true. Many dishwashers ([AmRoyal.com is for sale | HugeDomains](http://whirlpool.amroyal.com/whirlpool-ID7011-24-built-in-dishwasher-with-high-temperature-boost-option.html) for example) have a temperature boost option ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/29 "2008-02-18T02:53:51Z")
Put them in the microwave if they’re not metal. Melts chocolate and sugar, then wipe the bowls clean. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/30 "2008-02-18T03:05:27Z")
Mine heats up the water – I didn’t realize that not all dishwashers do this. If your’s doesn’t, then why not let the dishes wait, and focus on repairing the hot water heater? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808/31 "2008-02-18T15:20:17Z")
Even dishwashers with a heat boost option don’t have enough oomph to take cold tap water and get it hot enough for serious dish washing. All they do is turn on the heating element while the dishwasher is running - they don’t have a thermostat or anything to make sure the water reaches some target temperature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-get-hardened-chocolate-off-every-bowl-i-own/437808.md?page=1)