We still have a basket that goes in the dishwasher that the wife used to clean baby bottle lids, nipples, etc. Do you think there'd be any problems with loading it up with brass and running it through a cycle? I didn't know if there'd be any chemical in the dishwasher detergent that would corrode or weaken brass.

Lead residue in your dishwasher maybe?

clothes dryer yes, dishwasher no. Though I will admit to dishwashing a few dirty old M1 Garand stocks.

You do not want brass in their with a baby in the house. Too much lead and other heavy metal residue.

To clarify, my "babies" are older now, and the wife rarely throws anything away. I saw it the other day, and the idea popped into my head. Lead residue left behind in the washer is a valid concern I hadn't considered. Thanks.

Dish detergent is pretty caustic stuff, give it a shot and let us know how it turns out.

I have been known to dry net bags full of brass in a clothes drier after washing it in a jug, but I've never tried washing it in a clothes or dish washer because of direct and indirect health issues.

Lead residue left in a dish washer could cause health problems directly and if any of SWMBO's clothes got stained, my health and well being would suffer greatly by indirect means.

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

Keep ammunition and fired cases away from anything that touches your food. Being able to clean brass easily isn't worth the risk you are placing yourself and anyone else who eats off dishes cleaned in the same appliance. If you have an old dish washer that you no longer use for anything that touches food then go ahead.

If you want to clean your brass, put it into a seal-able container with hot water and a teaspoon of dishwasher detergent. Shake it around to agitate and then rinse with hot water. Use only a small amount of dishwhasher cleaner as its very caustic.

Frankly there are better ways to clean brass. Dishwasher detergent is formulated to remove organic particles not heavy metals, oxidation and carbon scouring. A cleaner designed for industrial metal parts washers would be more appropriate. The problem is finding small quantities for home use.

Ditto,
I often amazed at the lack of concern also displayed on this forum with regard to casting bullets.

A big tupperware tub 3/4 filled with a 50/50 solution of Simple Green and water works well for both brass and gun parts. Drop the brass/parts in, seal the cover and agitate for a while. Pour out the solution, rinse with hot water, pour out the water, place objects on a towel and dry in the sun. Be sure to protect gun parts with preservative oil, as this will remove any that was on them.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have nothing against the idea (rinse cycle is your friend), but it seems like a LOT of trouble for something that only requires you to wipe the grit off the case exterior.
If you run them through with the primer still in, there would be almost no primer residue "contamination." If you run them through after depriming and cleaning the primer pocket (any one who wants to "clean" the cases this badly has to be a primer pocket scrubber, too), you have eliminated almost all the contamination.
Everything we do beyond that, such as tumbling for an hour in corn cob or walnut grit, we do for ourselves and not out of any need or improvement in perfromance.
Whatever floats you boat, but I try to keep my brass dry...

I have found just tumbling it for a couple extra hours, works great. What is a little more electricity?

I guess I'm just too slovenly, as I never clean brass (other than wiping off powder residue). From a performance point of view, no need.

If it fills a shooter with pride and wonder to clean brass shiny bright, I'm all for him...just don't ask me to do the shining.

Not the dishwasher but I use the clothes washing machine...simply add brass to an old pillow case, tie a knot in it and wash away. Make sure not to overload it though.

Works great and is wife approved!

Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x

Dishwasher? Glocks yes, brass no.

Get a tumbler.