Most of the time, it feels like there aren’t enough hours in my day. There is work to get done, and there are kids to get out the door in time for school. Did I remember to order groceries, so I have something to make for dinner tonight? The grass is getting unruly out there, and the bills certainly aren’t going to pay themselves.
And somewhere, in that never-ending pile of stuff, sits daily chores. You know, like the dreaded cleaning or laundry. These are the things that I know have to get done… but I don’t really want to do them. Don’t get me wrong – I love the results, it’s just the actual chore part that’s a bore. I mean, who wants to wash all the kids’ bath toys? And when was the last time you actually cleaned your toothbrush holder or hairbrush?
Related: How to Love Cleaning Your House
While I can’t add extra hours to the day, I can utilize what I’ve got to make things a little easier. After all, the whole reason why we have so many appliances at our disposal is to take at least a little of the load off of us. However, I have a feeling you have one appliance that you aren’t using to its full potential: the dishwasher.
Sure, it’s called a dishwasher, but did you know that it can wash a lot more than just plates, cutlery, and pots? It can be used to clean and sanitize a lot more than just dishes! You can actually use this handy appliance to wash tons of things around the kitchen and even from around the entire house. Depending on how much you use your dishwasher to clean other things around the house, you could be saving yourself a lot of time and energy.
Saving time and energy is imperative. I’ve got stuff to do.
Tips on Using Your Dishwasher to Clean Other Household Items
Okay, are you excited to load up the dishwasher and let it do the work for you? Before we get into all the things you can toss into the dishwasher for a cleaning, let’s go over a few things about how to do it, first. With some items, it’s just as simple as putting them on the rack and running a cycle as usual. There are a few things, though, that might require special attention.
It’s important to remember that there are heating elements in the bottom of the dishwasher. If you are washing small items that may fall off the rack, slide them into a mesh bag before running a cleaning cycle. There are also dishwasher baskets, usually designed to hold small parts for baby bottles, binkies, and more. These will also work if you happen to have one on hand. Mesh bags and dishwasher baskets will keep all those small items safe.
For items with fabric, do not use a detergent that contains bleach. It will fade the color or even remove printed details. Items with hand-painted details and gilding should not go in the dishwasher, because it will remove those. Wooden items and wooden handles may warp in the dishwasher, so it’s best to leave those out, too.
It is best to avoid cross-contamination. I probably wouldn’t wash bathroom items with kitchen items, or pet items with things from my car. And while a few things may be fine to run in the same load as regular dishes (like a microwave turntable or utensil drawer inserts), many of these items probably shouldn’t go in with food-safe items. Use your best judgment here.
Depending on what you washed – or how dirty it was! – you may want to clean your dishwasher before getting back to your regularly scheduled programming, too. After all, we are talking about washing dishes and other things we use for food. You don’t necessarily have to scrub the dishwasher or anything, you can run it on a hot water cycle with 1 cup of white vinegar. If you want to, you can then run a short wash cycle with 1 cup of baking soda sprinkled in the bottom of the dishwasher.
Also, check the dishwasher filter to ensure it is clean!
Now that we’ve got all that out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff! These are all the things that you can wash using your dishwasher. You’ll save yourself extra time and effort by letting the dishwasher do the work for you.
Kitchen Items
- Microwave turntable and splatter covers
- Kitchen sponges, bottle brushes, produce brushes
- Silicone oven mitts and baking mats
- Trivets
- Refrigerator shelves, drawers, and bins
- Cabinet and drawer hardware – Don’t throw hand-painted knobs or pulls in the dishwasher, but most other kinds of hardware will be fine.
- Utensil drawer inserts or dividers – Provided your utensil drawer divider is made of plastic or metal (no wood), it can go in the dishwasher.
- Stove/oven knobs – If your appliance knobs are plastic and aren’t painted, they are okay to go into the dishwasher. Any painted arrows or marks may come off.
- Sink strainers
- Exhaust fan filters – Range hoods and other kinds of exhaust fans have filters in them to catch grease. The filter and any removable covers can go in the dishwasher for a thorough degreasing.
Bathroom Items
- Toothbrushes
- Toothbrush holders
- Plastic brushes and combs – Brushes that have natural bristles or wood handles are not dishwasher safe. Plastic and other synthetic material are fine.
- Non-slip bathtub mats
- Bath poofs and sponges
- Shower caddies and soap dishes
- Manicure and pedicure tools – Skip the flimsy nail files that are made of cardboard, but anything made from metal, glass, and ceramic is fine to go in the dishwasher.
- Exhaust fan cover
Pet Items
- Pet toys – Rubber or hard plastic toys can come out clean and bacteria-free.
- Food and water bowls
- Collars and leashes – Any woven or synthetic collars and leashes are safe to go in the dishwasher. Don’t put leather into the dishwasher.
Baby and Kid Items
- Lunch bags and boxes
- Toys – As long as toys aren’t battery-operated or really soft and squishy (like stuffed animals), they can be cleaned and sanitized in the dishwasher.
- Pacifiers and teething rings
- Baby bottles
- Bottle drying racks
Outdoor Items
- Hose sprayers
- Golf balls
- Tennis balls
- Mouth guards
- Plant pots and saucers
- Small garden tools – As long as your small tools, like hand trowels, are made of metal or plastic, they can go in the dishwasher. Anything with wood handles or other parts should not go in the dishwasher.
- Grill tools and grates – Just like kitchen tools that we use indoors, the grill tools we use outside can go in the dishwasher, too.
Cleaning Items
- Dustpans
- Small plastic brooms
- Spray bottles
- Vacuum attachments
- Cleaning caddies
- Buckets
Car Items
- Removable cup holders
- Rubber floor mats – Carpeted mats will do better in a washing machine, but rubber floor mats can be draped on the top rack.
- Tools – Like with other items listed here, avoid putting any tools with wooden handles in the dishwasher. Electrical and battery-operated tools don’t go in the dishwasher, either.
Other Miscellaneous Items
- Potatoes – Potatoes and other root vegetables that come out of the ground need a good cleaning before you prep and cook them. If you have a large number of potatoes that you don’t have time to clean, you can rinse them in the dishwasher instead of by hand. Just make sure there is no soap or rinse agent in the dispensers.
- Keys – Obviously, transponder keys, key fobs, and other battery-operated items are not dishwasher-safe. Regular metal keys, like your house key, are dishwasher-safe.
- Light fixture globes – Glass and plastic globes and shades from light fixtures and lamps will come out of the dishwasher all shiny and clean. Avoid anything with painted details, as these may come off in a dishwasher.
- Flower vases – Similar to the light fixture globes, avoid anything with painted details. Also skip anything with gilding, or vases that are really delicate.
- HVAC vent grates
- Pencil cups
- Paper organizer trays
- Light switch plates and outlet covers – Don’t put painted covers in the dishwasher, but those standard plastic covers are just fine for the top rack in the dishwasher.
- Flip flops – Rubber flip-flops and shower shoes can go on the top rack. Leave out any flip-flops that have leather. And if they have any fabric parts, don’t use dishwasher detergent containing bleach.
- Rubber boots – Unlined rubber boots are safe to go in the dishwasher, just remove any excess dirt first.
- Some ceiling fan blades – Yes, even ceiling fan blades can go in the dishwasher, provided they are made from plastic or vinyl. Don’t put wood blades in the dishwasher.
- Baseball hats – These can get pretty yucky, and the washing machine can mess up their shape. You can purchase a form to help keep their shape, or secure it around the pegs of the dishwasher’s top rack. Don’t use hot water, and ensure your dishwasher detergent does not contain bleach.
