Why Do Tupperware Containers Stay Wet in the Dishwasher?
Discover why Tupperware and other plastics stay wet in the dishwasher, while ceramic plates and glasses do not.
If you've ever opened your dishwasher to find your plastic Tupperware still damp while the ceramic plates and glasses are bone dry, you might be curious about the cause of this discrepancy.
Ceramic plates and glasses possess a higher heat capacity compared to Tupperware, meaning they can retain more heat and aid in quicker water evaporation.
The lower heat capacity of plastic Tupperware leads to the moisture retention.
This difference is also due to variations in the materials' molecular structures.
While the water on the ceramic plates and glasses evaporates rapidly during the dry cycle, the water on the Tupperware lingers, leaving it moist.
Heat Capacity and Evaporation
When the dishwasher's drying cycle heats up, the ceramic plates and glasses retain the heat more effectively, allowing the water to evaporate quickly and leave them bone dry.
On the other hand, the plastic Tupperware doesn't retain heat as effectively due to its lower heat capacity, causing the water to evaporate slower, leaving it damp.
