How to Wash Dishes During a Boil-Water Advisory
Check the active notice, verify a dishwasher's sanitizing cycle or final-rinse temperature, and follow current public-health instructions for hand-washing dishes.
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The sink is full, the dishwasher has a button marked ‘sanitize,’ and the water notice does not seem to mention either. Keep the notice open while checking the appliance manual: the method you can use depends on both. If either answer is unclear, the issuing utility or health department is the right place to ask before starting a cycle.
This page covers dishes while a boil-water advisory is active. The after-advisory checklist covers restarting faucets and connected appliances after the utility lifts the notice.
Dishwashing decision
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Local notice gives specific dishwashing instructions | Follow that instruction, including any limits for infants, childcare, or shared kitchens |
| Dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle, or manual confirms final rinse reaches 150°F (66°C) | CDC says it is generally safe to use during a boil-water advisory; follow the cycle instructions and local notice |
| Manual does not confirm either condition | Do not assume the regular cycle is enough; use disposable items if available or the current health-department hand-washing method |
| Notice is “do not drink” or “do not use,” or mentions chemicals/toxins | Do not apply boil-advisory directions; follow the notice’s exact contact and use restrictions |
Check the model manual or ask its manufacturer what final-rinse temperature the selected cycle reaches. A cycle name alone may not establish the temperature. If the manual does not answer, choose another method allowed by the issuing authority.
If washing dishes by hand
CDC’s current advisory page provides a hand-washing and sanitizing sequence for boil-water notices. Follow the current CDC instructions and the local notice. The sequence uses ordinary washing and rinsing, a separate basin with unscented household bleach at the CDC’s stated amount per gallon, a soak, and complete air-drying. Confirm the current instructions before mixing anything; product strength and local instructions matter.
Do not substitute a home water filter for the advisory. CDC says tap water should still be boiled during a boil-water advisory even when it has passed through a home filter or pitcher, unless local authorities provide different incident-specific directions.
For baby bottles, CDC directs caregivers to sanitize them during a boil-water advisory. Use its current guidance and ask the local health department or a health professional if the notice or infant-care situation is unclear.
Keep the water advice tied to the notice
A boil-water advisory addresses a potential germ risk and is not interchangeable with a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory. CDC explains that a do-not-drink notice may involve chemicals or toxins that boiling cannot remove, while a do-not-use notice can restrict any contact. Read the full notice for its area, effective time, and activities covered.
If the notice does not mention dishwashing or is hard to interpret, call the issuing utility or health department. Ask: “Does this notice apply to dishes at my address, and what method should I use if my dishwasher’s manual does not confirm a sanitizing cycle or final-rinse temperature?” Keep the answer with the notice until it is lifted.
