Washing Dishes

[027daisy]

My husband and I arent agreeing on some things and figured this was a good place to ask. I am eating gluten free and most of the house it, but my husband isnt. Last night he made a pizza in the oven, right on the rack. Oh course now the bottom of the oven is tainted with gluten free stuff but thats besides the point. Today I told him that when we wash dishes he cant wash his none gluten free items like the pizza cutter with the rest of the gluten free dishes. He said why not, its all getting clean. I said because if they are all sitting in the same water and using the same sponge or wash cloth that its all getting contaminated. He doesnt agree. I said its probably fine in the dishwasher because it gets so HOT and I always use the sanitize cycle. What are your thoughts.

Thanks!

Julie

[jerseyangel]

I have a dishwasher, and have always rinsed all the dishes very well and run them through together and it's fine.

Last summer, I stayed at my son's home (part of the process of an out of state move) for 2 months without a dishwasher. What I found out about myself is that I was reacting to rinsing the dishes well and washing them together in the sink. My son did eat bagels and pizza, and I think that using the same cloth probably transferred enough trace gluten that over time I reacted.

When I began washing my dishes, silverware, and glasses first there were no more problems. I also kept them separate once clean, and used dishcloths that I washed between uses.

[GFreeMO]

I have a dishwasher, and have always rinsed all the dishes very well and run them through together and it's fine.

Last summer, I stayed at my son's home (part of the process of an out of state move) for 2 months without a dishwasher. What I found out about myself is that I was reacting to rinsing the dishes well and washing them together in the sink. My son did eat bagels and pizza, and I think that using the same cloth probably transferred enough trace gluten that over time I reacted.

When I began washing my dishes, silverware, and glasses first there were no more problems. I also kept them separate once clean, and used dishcloths that I washed between uses.

Could your husband possibly go Gluten-Free at home to support you? You could make Gluten-Free pizza for the both of you. The only way that I keep from getting sick is by keeping a Gluten-Free kitchen. If he isnt ready to do that, I would insist that he use a pizza pan and not put it on the rack. Have a special pan for him and one for you. I would have all separate dishes from his.

[Kay DH]

I've gotten sick from a relative's cutting board, too. It is important to have a segregated house if you don't erect a no-gluten allowed fence around the house.

[jerseyangel]

Could your husband possibly go Gluten-Free at home to support you? You could make Gluten-Free pizza for the both of you. The only way that I keep from getting sick is by keeping a Gluten-Free kitchen. If he isnt ready to do that, I would insist that he use a pizza pan and not put it on the rack. Have a special pan for him and one for you. I would have all separate dishes from his.

You're sweet I don't have a problem at home--my husband eats gluten-free here. This was for 2 months over last summer where I stayed with our son during the time we were in the process of moving from Texas to New Jersey. My son is extremely careful where I am concerned, but I didn't want him to stop eating certain things in his own home.

[027daisy]

So I am right! Ha, ha, he just needs to hear it from someone else than me!! I should explain a little more, my daughter is 3 1/2 and was just diagnosed with Celiac and lactose intolerant. I also run a home daycare with 7 kids. So in order to keep from going crazy making a million meals I decided to make the house and daycare totally gluten free! We are still working on it but no, I dont think my husband would ever go gluten free. My daughter also was born with a disorder called MCAD and cant have more than 4 grams of fat per meal and no medium chain fats like butter, avocado, coconut, etc. He is having a hard enough time eating low fat and its been 3 1/2 years!!! So I think I will have to find a place for some dishes and pans for just him and make it clear it cant go near the others! I dont know how else to get around it besides telling him he has to go live in the playhouse haha! I am also free of grains, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol due to lyme disease so our kitchen is interesting!!!

You're sweet I don't have a problem at home--my husband eats gluten-free here. This was for 2 months over last summer where I stayed with our son during the time we were in the process of moving from Texas to New Jersey. My son is extremely careful where I am concerned, but I didn't want him to stop eating certain things in his own home.

[YoloGx]

More to the point--don't share plastic or wooden dish-ware.

In addition, don't share an oven without first running it through the self cleaning cycle.

If your partner is going to heat up pizza's--I suggest one of you purchase and be the only one to use a large toaster oven. Sharing an oven with gluten will make most of us here sick.

Both my bf and I however also get sick just smelling the stuff baking. Go figure! Hope you aren't that sensitive. If you are however maybe your hubby could have his toaster oven and a small fridge in the garage. He could make his own special place (which you and your daughter don't visit) where he can have whatever gluten delight he wants. It might be a safe haven for him that could just save your relationship. Just make sure he washes up his gluteny hands, cleans his fingernails and thoroughly dusts off or changes his clothes afterwards. Also make sure he doesn't give you a kiss til his mouth is completely clear of the stuff. If there is a sink in the garage, so much the better...

And the other poster is so right--separate wash cloths and sponges are in order!

Bea

[027daisy]

Sheesh didnt think about just baking things in the oven could effect things. This is going to cause a big problem! He has to eat his pizza or I will have a very crabby husband! Our garage is crap and we dont have electricity out there so he may have to make a corner in the basement his. Of course we just bought an oven and didnt get one with the self cleaning option! We have a lot of changes to make!

More to the point--don't share plastic or wooden dish-ware.

In addition, don't share an oven without first running it through the self cleaning cycle.

If your partner is going to heat up pizza's--I suggest one of you purchase and be the only one to use a large toaster oven. Sharing an oven with gluten will make most of us here sick.

Both my bf and I however also get sick just smelling the stuff baking. Go figure! Hope you aren't that sensitive. If you are however maybe your hubby could have his toaster oven and a small fridge in the garage. He could make his own special place (which you and your daughter don't visit) where he can have whatever gluten delight he wants. It might be a safe haven for him that could just save your relationship. Just make sure he washes up his gluteny hands, cleans his fingernails and thoroughly dusts off or changes his clothes afterwards. Also make sure he doesn't give you a kiss til his mouth is completely clear of the stuff. If there is a sink in the garage, so much the better...

And the other poster is so right--separate wash cloths and sponges are in order!

Bea

[psawyer]

Dishwashers are effective on non-porous dishes and utensils due to the multiple cycles and high pressure. The heat has nothing to do with it.

Gluten can be destroyed by heat, but not in a dishwasher or ordinary oven. The gluten must be heated to at least 600^oF and held at that temperature for at least 30 minutes. Cast iron skillets can be rid of gluten by putting them in a self-cleaning oven while the clean cycle runs.

If your oven is self-cleaning, you should be able to run the clean cycle.

[Loey]

My husband and I arent agreeing on some things and figured this was a good place to ask. I am eating gluten free and most of the house it, but my husband isnt. Last night he made a pizza in the oven, right on the rack. Oh course now the bottom of the oven is tainted with gluten free stuff but thats besides the point. Today I told him that when we wash dishes he cant wash his none gluten free items like the pizza cutter with the rest of the gluten free dishes. He said why not, its all getting clean. I said because if they are all sitting in the same water and using the same sponge or wash cloth that its all getting contaminated. He doesnt agree. I said its probably fine in the dishwasher because it gets so HOT and I always use the sanitize cycle. What are your thoughts.

Thanks!

Julie

Hi Julie,

There are so many gluten-free options out there. I'm lucky that my husband and son (when he's home from college) go gluten-free. I'm in a very sensitive stage of my Celiac right now. We moved to a new town/state right after I got all my test results and I bought all new dishes, etc to use here. I don't even allow non gluten-free leftovers from a restaurant in my house.

I'm sure he wants you to get well - just show him the comments to your question.

Loey

[takeiteasy]

Am I understanding correctly that if my daughter using the oven rack for wheat bread & I only use the oven placing my gluten free foods in a pan on the rack, I can have a reaction to this? Even if my food does not touch the rack? Please explain. I'm a newbie. Thanks.

[MelindaLee]

Am I understanding correctly that if my daughter using the oven rack for wheat bread & I only use the oven placing my gluten free foods in a pan on the rack, I can have a reaction to this? Even if my food does not touch the rack? Please explain. I'm a newbie. Thanks.

I bake both gluten and non-gluten items in my oven (in pans) with out any issues. I can see where cooking on the rack can cause an issue, but if it's in the pans, I can't see where it should be a problem. (Please, correct me if I am wrong..all you more experience ones!) some people are very sensitive and have reactions over very small amounts of gluten. I would be more concerned if your daughter is making that bread from scratch and there is flour in the kitchen. Flour can become airborne and cause issues because of the fine dust which you may not notice. (All of the gluten items I cook are premade, ie frozen pizza)

[psawyer]

If the pans are washed thoroughly between uses, there should be no problem. Using the rack directly, like a barbecue grill, can transfer between gluten-free and regular food. Frozen pizza heated without a pan is an exposure.

[kareng]

I have separate dish sponges for hand washing. I have a pinkish purplish color for gluten-free. Everyone else has the blue. I also have some red cooking spoons and cutting boards. Red duct tape for my margarine tub, pb, etc. I also use paper towels a lot. I change dish towels/ hand towels everyday.

[takeiteasy]

I bake both gluten and non-gluten items in my oven (in pans) with out any issues. I can see where cooking on the rack can cause an issue, but if it's in the pans, I can't see where it should be a problem. (Please, correct me if I am wrong..all you more experience ones!) some people are very sensitive and have reactions over very small amounts of gluten. I would be more concerned if your daughter is making that bread from scratch and there is flour in the kitchen. Flour can become airborne and cause issues because of the fine dust which you may not notice. (All of the gluten items I cook are premade, ie frozen pizza)

sounds good to me. I'm going with your advice although I'll watch this thread in case someone tells us othewise. thanks.

[YoloGx]

Have you thought of baking your own gluten-free pizza? They sell easy mixes. Even if you don't eat it, baking it in the oven and then kissing the guy won't then be a problem. They taste just like regular pizzas... Ditto with a bunch of other stuff like cookies and cakes. MIght just be worth doing the little bit of extra work?

Bea

[Cheryl-C]

Just to add - my BF and I don't live together, but he is here often and will sometimes eat something with gluten. I don't have a dishwasher, so this is what I do: I wash all my dishes (or all gluten-free dishes) first, and wash his second. When I'm done washing his, I put a capful, or two, of bleach in the sink and fill it up with the hottest water I can. I let it sit there for about 20 minutes. I also bleach the dish cloth and/or dish scrubber for good measure.

My doctor recommended this as a way to clean the sink and dishes to avoid cc in the food prep area. I swear, sometimes I feel like the cc monster is lurking around every corner, out to get me...

[takeiteasy]

Just to add - my BF and I don't live together, but he is here often and will sometimes eat something with gluten. I don't have a dishwasher, so this is what I do: I wash all my dishes (or all gluten-free dishes) first, and wash his second. When I'm done washing his, I put a capful, or two, of bleach in the sink and fill it up with the hottest water I can. I let it sit there for about 20 minutes. I also bleach the dish cloth and/or dish scrubber for good measure.

My doctor recommended this as a way to clean the sink and dishes to avoid cc in the food prep area. I swear, sometimes I feel like the cc monster is lurking around every corner, out to get me...

I had to laugh out loud reading your last comment. I bought a packet of mixed nuts and fruit labeled gluten free & came home and read the "rest of the information" & lo and behold it lists as being made in a plant that also uses oat. Now why would the package be labeled gluten free if there might be cross contamination of oats? I feel the same way. The monster's surely out for me too !!

As a safety measure, starting this weekend, my daughter will be eating out of plastic when eating gluten and I bought a new colander and pot specifically for her gluten foods. I'm so glad I joined this site, as I am learning new things every single day, in addition to it feeling right at home!

Thank you!

[SaraKat]

We use our dishwasher for gluten-free and non gluten-free items. We rinse everything before putting it in.

[psawyer]

Bleach is an effective disinfectant, but has no effect whatsoever on gluten.

[Sarah B]

I'm having the same problems as some that you guys have talked about. Right now I'm living in a house with 5 other girls and we don't have a dish washer. I know that gluten travels from thing to thing when they come in contact with each other.

I've been using the same sponge as everybody else, is that bad? Should I go and buy my own special sponges? Also we only have one drying rack, is it bad to dry the dishes that are cleaned with a sponge that has touched gluten and one that has not? Do I need to have my own seperate dishes and sponge? And seperate drying rack? How far do I need to go? There's not much space in our kitchen and the drying rack is actually mine how do you do containate it?

[GFreeMO]

I'm having the same problems as some that you guys have talked about. Right now I'm living in a house with 5 other girls and we don't have a dish washer. I know that gluten travels from thing to thing when they come in contact with each other.

I've been using the same sponge as everybody else, is that bad? Should I go and buy my own special sponges? Also we only have one drying rack, is it bad to dry the dishes that are cleaned with a sponge that has touched gluten and one that has not? Do I need to have my own seperate dishes and sponge? And seperate drying rack? How far do I need to go? There's not much space in our kitchen and the drying rack is actually mine how do you do containate it?

The drying rack should be okay b/c the dishes on it are clean. I would make sure to get your own sponges or better yet, dish rags that can be washed in hot water. If I were you, I wouldnt get my own dishes but I would wash an already clean plate etc. with my special dish rags before using it just to be on the safe size.

[Cheryl-C]

Bleach is an effective disinfectant, but has no effect whatsoever on gluten.

Really? That's so weird then that the Dr would recommend it I use bleach/cleaning wipes on the counters and stuff anyway (good for disinfecting, as you said) but I was also under the impression it would remove the cc from gluten.

So then, what other steps can I take? Does soap and water do it? Something else??

[psawyer]

Bleach is an effective disinfectant, but has no effect whatsoever on gluten.

Really? That's so weird then that the Dr would recommend it

It is sad, but your doctor is misinformed. I don't know why he would think that bleach would do anything.

My advise if you don't have a dishwasher:

Rinse all dishes carefully before moving them to the wash phase (this is good advice even if you have a dishwasher).

Wash twice. Drain the water after the first wash and draw fresh. Use a fresh wash rag or sponge for the second wash.

Rinse again after the second wash before putting in the drying rack (you should be doing this anyway, to remove any remaining detergent).

[T.H.]

There's been no studies on effective ways to clean gluten off, I understand (none I've heard of, anyway), but there IS a study on the best ways to clean off peanut allergens. Since peanut proteins are also not destroyed by sterilizing cleaners and such, I figure this may be as close as we've got to a good guide.

Here's a link to it:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040510013634.htm

Wipes seemed to do well, although more for the wiping than the sanitizing effects, it seemed. Soap and water did well. That hand sanitizer stuff and just plain water didn't do as well, however.