Do You Wash Rental Dishes? What to Do Before You Return Them

The fear is understandable. You rent 150 plates, the party ends at 11 pm, and the idea of washing them by hand is a nightmare. In practice, rental dishes are made to be returned dirty. The company has industrial dishwashers and sanitizing steps that a home kitchen cannot match. What you need to know is the line between "dirty" and "too dirty."

The usual return steps

Most companies ask for the same three things: scrape, stack and crate. Scraping removes food waste into a trash bag. Stacking puts plates in neat piles by size. Crating puts those stacks in the crates the company delivered, with dividers if they came with them.

What not to do

• Do not put rental china in your own dishwasher unless the company says it is safe. Hot cycles and strong detergent can dull gold or silver trim.
• Do not scrub with abrasive pads. Rental dishes are durable, but scouring can scratch glaze.
• Do not soak them overnight in a sink where plates can crack against each other.
• Do not throw food in the crates. Wet food attracts pests and can stain linens packed nearby.

Details on trim are in gold-rim vs white china.

When a rinse is expected

Some companies ask you to rinse greasy, cheesy or sugary pieces, and to remove foil, candles and tape. Candle wax is a common problem for rental plates and chargers. Birthday candles, wedding favors and food dyes are others. If a catering plate has a baked-on sauce, a quick soak and wipe is better than leaving it to harden.

Check the agreement

Look for terms like "return condition," "cleaning fee" or "excessive soil." Ask the company what counts as excessive and what the fee is. We do not publish rental dinnerware fees, because they vary by company. Get the details in writing. Our breakage and loss fees guide explains related charges.

Who does the cleanup?

At a catered wedding, the caterer's staff often handle clearing and packing. Make sure the contract says who returns the dishes to the crates. If you are hosting at home, plan helpers; see how to set tables fast with a crew for crew sizing that applies to teardown too.

Timing the pickup

Pickup times are usually the next morning or the next business day, depending on the contract. If your venue needs the dishes out the same night, say so when booking. Chicago venues often have load-out windows, and a building might close its dock at a set hour. Ask both the venue and the rental company.

Cleaning glasses and flatware

Flatware often goes into a bin with soak water; glasses go back in racks. Do not stack glasses in crates without racks. Check the rules in the glassware section of your agreement. For linens, similar questions come up; ask about napkins and tablecloths separately, since stains are handled differently.

A simple cleanup routine

Assign two stations at the end of the night. One person scrapes food into a bin and sorts plates by size. A second person stacks them in the crate, pieces facing the same direction, with the divider in between. Keep a towel under the crate to avoid slips on a kitchen floor. If you are at a venue, ask the staff which room the crates should leave from, and who can sign the return sheet if you leave before pickup.

Know the rules before you order

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we will go through return rules and counts for your Chicago-area event, or request a quote.