Never Put Lacquerware in the Dishwasher or Microwave
Our pottery microwave and dishwasher guide makes the case that it depends on the specific piece. Lacquerware doesn’t get that same nuance. Nearly every genuine piece of shikki is built around a wood base, and it’s that wood, not just the lacquer on top of it, that makes both appliances a real problem.
Why the dishwasher damages lacquerware
A dishwasher cycles a piece through hot water, detergent, and a hot, fast drying phase. For a wood base under a lacquer finish, that heat-and-dry cycle is the core problem: repeated cycles pull moisture out of the wood unevenly, and the wood responds by shrinking and warping. Once the wood moves, the urushi or synthetic finish on top of it, which doesn’t flex the same way, can crack or separate from the surface it’s bonded to.
Detergent adds a second problem on top of that. Dishwasher detergent is more alkaline than handwashing soap, and repeated exposure dulls the glossy finish and can discolor it over time, even before the wood itself has visibly warped. The tumbling and water jets inside a dishwasher can also knock pieces against each other, leaving fine scratches on a surface that’s otherwise remarkably hard once cured.
Why the microwave is even riskier for lacquerware
The mechanism here is different from a dishwasher, and it’s specific to wood. Every piece of wood holds a small amount of moisture inside its fibers, even after it’s fully dried and finished. Microwave energy heats that trapped moisture directly, and as it expands and turns to vapor inside the wood, it stresses the wood from the inside out. That’s what causes warping and cracking that starts inside the base rather than on the visible surface, and it happens whether or not the piece has any decoration at all.
Two real products confirm this isn’t theoretical caution: a plain Yamanaka lacquerware tray and a synthetic urethane-finished tray sold under the Echizen name are both rated by their makers as neither dishwasher nor microwave safe, despite one being real urushi and the other not. The wood base underneath is the common problem in both cases, not the specific finish.
That also means the rule is really about the wood, not the word “lacquerware” itself. A small number of modern pieces use a resin or plastic core instead of wood, specifically to be dishwasher and microwave friendly, and those genuinely don’t have the wood-moisture problem described above. They’re the exception rather than the norm, though, and most of what’s sold as Japanese lacquerware, Wajima-nuri, Yamanaka, Aizu, or Echizen among them, is built on a real wood base. Check the specific listing’s base material rather than assuming from the word “lacquerware” alone.
How to actually wash lacquerware
Hand washing lacquerware
- Wash it promptly after use rather than letting food or liquid sit on it.
- Use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water is part of what stresses the wood-and-lacquer bond over time.
- Wash with a soft sponge or cloth and a mild, non-abrasive soap. Skip anything alkaline or abrasive enough to dull the glossy finish.
- Rinse and dry immediately with a soft towel. Don’t let a piece sit in the sink or a drying rack to air dry.
- Store it away from direct sunlight and away from very dry air, such as right next to a heating vent, since cured urushi still needs some ambient humidity to stay flexible.
Our full guide to cleaning and storing lacquerware goes further into long-term storage, humidity, and what to do if a piece gets damaged.
Frequently asked questions
Can lacquerware go in the dishwasher at all?
Treat it as a no. A dishwasher's heat-and-dry cycle warps and cracks the wood base underneath the lacquer finish over repeated use, and the detergent dulls the glossy surface faster than hand washing would.
Why is the microwave worse for lacquerware than for ceramics?
Lacquerware has a wood base, and wood holds trapped moisture inside its fibers even when fully finished. Microwave energy heats that moisture directly, and as it expands and evaporates it stresses the wood from the inside, causing warping or cracking that has nothing to do with any decoration on the surface.
Is gold-decorated lacquerware more dangerous in a microwave?
Yes, for an additional reason on top of the wood problem. Gold, silver, or platinum decoration is thin metal, and microwave energy can cause it to arc, producing visible sparks that can scorch the piece or damage the microwave.
What's the right way to wash lacquerware?
By hand, in lukewarm water, with a soft sponge and mild soap, dried immediately with a towel. Never let it sit soaking, and avoid hot water and abrasive or alkaline cleaners.
Does this apply to synthetic (cashew or urethane) lacquerware too?
Largely yes, since the wood base underneath is the same regardless of finish. A urethane or cashew coating doesn't change the fact that there's still moisture-sensitive wood underneath it, which is why synthetic lacquerware is also typically sold as hand-wash only.
The short version
Lacquerware’s dishwasher and microwave problem starts with the wood base, not the finish on top of it: a dishwasher’s heat-and-dry cycle warps and cracks that wood over time, and a microwave heats the moisture trapped inside it directly, which can crack the base from within. Gold or silver decoration adds a separate arcing risk in the microwave. Wash lacquerware by hand in lukewarm water and dry it immediately, and it will outlast almost anything else on your table. Our guide to choosing and caring for Japanese lacquerware covers the rest of what to know before you buy.