What filament survives dishwasher or under-hood heat?
A residential sanitize rinse reaches about 150 °F (66 °C), and a normal wash runs at roughly 120 to 140 °F (49 to 60 °C). ABS, ASA, polycarbonate (PC) and nylon (PA) carry a heat deflection temperature above 66 °C with margin. PETG clears it by a few degrees. PLA and polypropylene (PP) sit below it.
The number
| Material | Example product (manufacturer) | HDT (state load) | Tg | Verdict against 66 °C sanitize rinse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene (PP) | PP Filament (Fiberlogy) | 51 °C at 0.45 MPa | -31 °C | below |
| PLA | PLA Basic (Bambu Lab) | 57 °C at 0.45 MPa (54 °C at 1.8 MPa) | 60 °C | below |
| PETG | PETG Basic (Bambu Lab) | 71 °C at 0.45 MPa (68 °C at 1.8 MPa) | 69 °C | above by 5 °C |
| ABS | ABS Extrafill (Fillamentum) | 81 °C at 1.8 MPa | not stated on sheet (Vicat 103 °C) | above by 15 °C |
| ASA | Prusament ASA (Prusa Polymers) | 93 °C at 0.45 MPa (86 °C at 1.8 MPa) | not stated on sheet | above by 27 °C |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | PC (Bambu Lab) | 112 °C at 0.45 MPa (117 °C at 1.8 MPa) | 145 °C | above by 46 °C |
| Nylon (PA) | PA6-CF, carbon fiber filled (Bambu Lab) | 186 °C at 0.45 MPa (164 °C at 1.8 MPa) | 68 °C | above by 120 °C |
Figures from Fiberlogy, Bambu Lab, Fillamentum and Prusa Polymers data sheets, margins on the 0.45 MPa value where given.
Why
The heat deflection temperature (HDT) is where a loaded test bar bends a set amount. The glass transition temperature (Tg) is where the polymer turns rubbery. A part on a rack carries little load, but it creeps once hot water sits near Tg. Prusa’s guide says PLA gets soft and deforms above 60 °C.
Water is the second problem. Nylon is hygroscopic: it takes up water from the air. Prusa says polyamide can absorb water up to 10 % of its weight, and the Bambu Lab PA6-CF sheet lists 2.35 % saturated uptake against 0.43 % for PLA Basic. Wet nylon swells and softens, so its dry HDT overstates what a wet part can take.
ABS, ASA and PC shrink more on cooling, so parts warp and layers split without an enclosure. A weak layer bond opens further under repeated hot and cold cycles. Prusa’s food-safety guide also warns that layer grooves hold residue and bacteria.
This page covers dishwasher heat only. No under-hood figure was sourced.
How to check it on your own print
- Soak the part in water at the sanitize-rinse temperature, about 66 °C, until it is heated through, then press it while warm. Any give means it will not survive a sanitize rinse.
- Run one real cycle on the top rack, away from the heating element, touching nothing else.
- Check for warp on a flat surface and for whitening along layer lines. Repeat the check after a few more cycles before trusting the part.
Sources
- Dishwasher - Sanitization Cycle (GE Appliances support) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Dishwasher - Water Temp Boost or Wash Heat Boost (GE Appliances support) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Dishwasher - Correct Water Temperature (GE Appliances support) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0, PLA Basic (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0, PETG Basic (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Fillamentum ABS Extrafill Technical Data Sheet (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Prusament ASA Technical Datasheet, Version 1.1 (Prusa Polymers) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0, PC (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0, PA6-CF (accessed September 15, 2026)
- PP Filament (Fiberlogy product page with technical properties) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Food safe FDM printing (Prusa Knowledge Base) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- Polyamide (Nylon) (Prusa Knowledge Base) (accessed September 15, 2026)
- PLA (Prusa Knowledge Base) (accessed September 15, 2026)