Melted plastic on dishwasher heating element

I managed to drop a sharp kitchen knife with a plastic handle into the dishwasher by mistake, and it melted and stuck to the element, but through one of the cutlery baskets so it couldn't be removed at all! :eek: I was panicking because I thought I'd sha&&ed the dishwasher, but my OH just turned the DW on again for a cycle without any pots in it (except the stuck knife). He waited until the water had heated up again - so the element was hot - opened the DW up, switched it off at the socket and simply wiggled the knife until the (now soft and melty) plastic came away from the element completely. No damage to the element, DW not knackered, and I got my knife back - although the handle was a bit Dali-esque by now!

Maybe the same principle could work for you - so long as the element is hot you should be able to remove all the last bits of plastic. Do remember to switch the DW off and unplug first though!

Have you tried putting some ice-cubes on it so the plastic becomes brittle? Should then be easy to chip off with something non-metal, like a plastic spoon or wooden spatula.