Using your dishwasher as a waterproof safe

[parunner58]

I have been seeing numerous posts on Facebook and the internet telling people in the path of Hurricane Florence to store all thier important papers in thier dishwashers. Am I correct in thinking that a DW is not a waterproof box? From working on them from the mid 1970's until now, I have seen many openings for fill flumes, forced air drying systems and vents. When I was in high shcool in the 70's, the Scranton area in Pennsylvania had major flooding and the Vo-Tech school I went to got a bunch of appliances from the flood area to work on and I saw a few dishwashers filled with mud and yuk from the flood waters.

 

[DADoES]

 
Absolutely they are not.  One of the many fallacies about appliances and everything else that route around Phacebhook.

 

[henene4]

No way a DW is a water tight box. They have to have a tub vent for air to leak out during filling, thus they can't be air or water tight.

Just grab some large zip lock bags, put each document in one, then group them again in another larger one and pad with paper towels.
Normal non zip lock bags with ties or rubber bands would work against splash water to, though probably not against submersion.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Not a chance;

No DW seals up water tight. Dishwashers are designed to keep the spray action in and the small amount of water in the bottom. Not keep a hurricane out. Those who are posting this nonsense should be ashamed as their bad advice will certainly cause many people needless problems who will soon have many problems to start with.
WK78

 

[parunner58]

I'm glad I am right on this. I don't know how many posts on FB and the internet people are telling everyone store important stuff in there.

 

[wayupnorth]

I suppose if you had everything you needed to put in there sealed up in plastic, you could salvage it. But just put important papers in the racks, I dont think so.

 

[askolover]

They would be safer  in a top load washer...up to a point.  If the water were deep enough it would probably begin to float and bobble around.  Same goes for a front loader.  The door seals are "supposed to be" water tight.  Then when the water is deep enough it would go in through the drawer or vent or float and bobble around until it turned & took in water.

 

[deltablu]

FL washer boots

are supposed to be water tight from the inside-out, not the other way around. Because of the lip seal, water pressure from the inside will push the seal tighter to the door. Pressure on the outside will just cause the seal to move out of the way.

 

[rolls_rapide]

There was a thread on here last year about using dishwashers as a waterproof safe.

It was hooey advice then - and it's still a load of hooey.

Bottom line? Just don't.

 

[uncledave]

An igloo/coleman/ other suitable cooler attached to your house with a rope will just float around with the water below the door - keeping the water out.

We tried it in a swimming pool and it works fine aside from the security issue.

UD