Only the parts the maker lists as dishwasher-safe — the bowl on several models, never the pump, and the manual is the authority rather than the material.
Some of it, and the useful half.
Usually safe
The bowl on models that state it — the stainless Drinkwell bowl is listed as dishwasher-safe, which is the difference between cleaning it properly and meaning to.
Never
The pump. It is a motor in a housing, and it is washed by hand, opened, and the impeller cleaned separately.
Check the plastics
Not all plastic tolerates a hot cycle, and a warped part will not seal. When the manual does not say, assume hand washing.
The habit that matters more
Opening the pump monthly. A dishwasher cannot reach the one surface that decides whether the fountain stays quiet.
This does not replace your device’s manual. Blade temperatures, locking mechanisms and cleaning procedures differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s instructions take precedence over anything written here. Unplug a device before dismantling it, check a hot blade or an air nozzle against your own hand before it goes anywhere near an animal, and keep a mechanism that closes or rotates under supervision until you know how it behaves.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17