Most pots and pans should be hand-washed.
Dishwashers are supposed to take the work out of washing dishes, and for many years, they have. A recent change in legislation has forced detergent manufacturers to remove phosphate from the formulations to help keep it from leaching into streams and lakes. One of the side effects with pots and pans is more corrosive activity on the surface of the metals without the protection of the phosphates. Now, many manufacturers of quality pots are advising consumers to wash pots and pans by hand.
Detergent
Since it seems to be more an issue of the corrosive effects of dishwashing detergent on the various surfaces found on pots and pans, the safe method of cleaning is by hand with liquid dish detergent. Consumer Reports states that the detergents are rough on "any silver, fine glassware, brass, bronze, cast iron, disposable plastics, gold-colored flatware, gold-leaf china, hollow-handle knives, pewter, tin, anything made of wood or with a wood handle, and possibly other kitchen ware."
Copper
Copper is a reactive metal, which is why manufacturers often coat it with stainless steel. If you place copper-bottom pots into a dishwasher with hot water that is often acidic, you can expect to see markings across the copper.
Glass
Glass is usually safe in a dishwasher unless you place reactive metals in the machine with it. Chemical reactions between the detergent and the metals dissolve a small amount of the metals into the water splashing over the glass. The result is often a film coating the surface, which you then have to wash off by hand. Hard water deposits are another problem with dishwasher-washed glass objects as the deposits accumulate as the dishes drip dry.
Aluminum
Aluminum is another reactive metal that has never been dishwasher safe. Without the buffering action of the phosphates, the surface of aluminum reacts with the detergents and the water, leaving a coating on the rest of the dishes in the machine.
Scratched Teflon
Teflon is a coating over metal, often aluminum. If the surface is scratched, the acid detergent in the dishwasher will eat away at the exposed aluminum and loosen more of the coating, rendering the pan unsafe for cooking. Generally, scratched Teflon is unsuitable for cooking with acidic food.
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