dehydrator question.

[pumpkin cuddler]

Hello

I am now the very proud owner of a dehydrator.

Thanks to the very informative thread on here about the one lots of you purchased.

I was reading the instructions on it and it suggested not to wash the trays but just to wipe them over with a damp cloth.

I was a bit concerned as I was thinking of dehyrating a whole load of sliced toamtoes. I am pretty sure that there must be some of the juice dripping out and over the 10 hours or so of dehydrating this would possibly be sticky and difficult to get off. I then wondered how hygenic it would be to use the next time.

Please can anyone advise me on if it is ok to just wash in warm soapy water.
Or tell me whether I am being a bit over catious with the cleaning. I just think that if it is food there could be bacteria, and that would be the last thing I want on food I am hoping will last longer due to dehydrating.

Any advise would be appreciated.

[PAULW]

I wash my trays with out any problems, but I don't panic if the trays have a small amount of staining bacteria need moisture to thrive the dehydrator prevents this.

[Alison]

I wash my trays by hand but don't leave them soaking in water and certainly wouldn't put them in the dish washer.

[WrexTheDragon]

For messy things I use a teflon baking liner cut to shape. They only cost me 99p each, but I see that Poundstretcher have 2 for £1.49.

[awebuser]

Poundstretcher is the cheapest I have found at the moment. Although Costco is cheap if you are a member.