Do Not Put Your Photos in the Dishwasher!
Do you ever see something on social media that just sets your teeth on edge? I mean, it gets under your skin and you just can’t stop thinking about it. In general, I try to avoid conversations on politics and religion because I am very non-confrontational by nature. For the most part, I keep my opinions to myself in public forums. But last year as Hurricane Harvey loomed, that all changed.
Just Don’t Do It
I woke up one morning to a meme on Facebook imploring people to put all of their printed photos in the dishwasher. Hey, it is waterproof and it is unlikely to move during the storm, right? What could possibly go wrong with that?
When I read this, I had a visceral reaction. “No, no, no, NO, NO, NO!! Please DON’T DO THIS!,” every fiber of my being screamed. And as the day went on I saw the meme again and again and again. When I got home that night, I realized I needed to do something, so I wrote this post.
Dishwashers And Photos Don’t Mix
Since this meme first appeared, I have had several conversations with other photo organizers about this. We all agree that putting your photos in a dishwasher for safekeeping is a terrible idea.
Dishwashers are meant to keep water in and many never fully drain even in normal use. When a storm raises the groundwater, household pipes can back up and fill the dishwasher with water so your precious photos and documents would literally be drowned.
Do NOT put your #photos in a dishwasher to protect them from water damage. Just don't.Click To TweetJust because your dishwasher is set snuggly inside your cabinets, it is not immune. In strong floodwaters, doors can be ripped off appliances and appliances can be moved across the house. Even Snopes.com agrees.
My friend Kathy Stone of Calgary Photo Solutions saw these exact scenarios firsthand in the Alberta floods of 2013. In fact, she is still helping people recover their photos from that flood. Read more about her experience and advice here.
What Should You Do With Your Photos
The #1 best situation if you have to evacuate is to take your photos with you, but of course, this may NOT be an option.
The next best thing is to safely prepare with these tips from Save Your Photos.
- Backup your digital files in multiple ways if you have time.
- Double, even triple wrap your print photos and photo books in plastic and put in a plastic tub.
- Store the tub(s) as high in your home as possible and preferably in a small space like a closet so they won’t be as likely to fall over and spill out.
Obviously, nothing is a perfect solution and things happen all the time. I just want you to be smart about things from the beginning and not make a choice that could have bad consequences.
So please do NOT put your photos in the dishwasher! There…rant over, I feel better now
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Email us. I’d love your feedback and questions! [email protected]
Want to Know More?
If you want to work with a photo organizer near you to help you organize and preserve your photos, contact us or visit The Photo Managers to find one in your area.
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you purchase from a link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. See my disclosure policy for full details.
Connect with Good Life Photo Solutions
Instagram • Good Life Photo Solutions
Facebook • Good Life Photo Solutions
Pinterest • Good Life Photo Solutions
Sign up for our newsletter
Email us. I’d love your feedback and questions! [email protected]
Want to Know More?
If you want to work with a photo organizer near you to help you organize and preserve your photos, contact us or visit The Photo Managers to find one in your area.
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you purchase from a link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. See my disclosure policy for full details.
