This is One Versatile Appliance!
I know our Cook’n readers are exceptionally savvy, but in the off chance you haven’t heard of this before, I’m gonna share. Did you know you can wash a whole lot more in your dishwasher besides dishes?
Jillee, of www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com, sent this information out recently. She said, “From dusty silk flowers to grimy toys and beyond, cleaning these items in your dishwasher can save you a lot of time and effort.”
This is a quick and easy way to clean lots of smaller items around the house. Just follow 2 guidelines: First, only sturdy items go in the bottom rack; everything else goes into the top rack to avoid damage. (When in doubt, choose the top rack just to be safe!) Second, in most cases, you can wash non-dish items and dishes in the same load without worry.
With this advice in place, you can start using your dishwasher to better advantage. Here are all the things that clean up well when washed this way:
BASEBALL CAPS. Toss sweaty or dirty ball caps into the top rack of your dishwasher to clean them. With this approach they aren’t twisted and smashed out of shape like they are when washed in the washing machine.
FLIP FLOPS. This is such an easy and effective way to clean and brighten them up.
VACUUM ATTACHMENTS. When was the last time you cleaned your vacuum attachments? Toss them in the top rack of your dishwasher to clear out any dirt that may be trapped inside them. Clean tools are much nicer to use than dirty ones, don’t you think?
HAIRBRUSHES. Unless your hairbrush is made of wood or has natural bristles, you can clean it in your dishwasher. (Just try to remove as much hair from it as possible beforehand, and allow it to air dry for several hours or overnight afterward.)
EXHAUST FAN FILTERS. If your bathroom exhaust fan filter looks dusty, chances are the fan are good the fan may not be working properly. Non-electrical parts are easy to clean in your dishwasher.
DISH SPONGES AND BRUSHES. Even cleaning tools need to be cleaned occasionally, especially germ magnets like kitchen sponges, brushes, scrubbers, etc.
SILICONE HOT PADS AND TRIVETS. Many of today’s kitchen accessories are made from silicone, both because it can withstand high temperatures and because it’s easy to clean. So why not clean your silicone trivet, oven mitts, spoon rest, sponge holder, and other accessories in the top rack of your dishwasher?
FRIDGE SHELVES AND BINS. These can safely rest on either rack. Talk about an easy way to clean them!
LIGHT FIXTURES, SWITCH PLATES, OUTLET COVERS. Dusty light covers go on the bottom and grimy switch plates and outlet covers go on the top. You’ll love how they sparkle once cleaned this way.
AIR VENT COVERS. What a smart and easy way to clean these super dusty necessities!
BATHROOM ACCESSORIES AND BATH ITEMS. Load the soap dish, toothbrush holder, loofah, and other such items into the top rack.
TOYS. All kinds of kids’ small toys clean up in the dishwasher. If anything has small parts, zip those into a mesh laundry bag to ensure they won’t go missing.
PET STUFF. Besides food and water bowls, synthetic collars and leashes, and plastic toys do just fine in the dishwasher.
Does the dishwasher deserve applause or what? This is one versatile appliance!
Jillee, of www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com, sent this information out recently. She said, “From dusty silk flowers to grimy toys and beyond, cleaning these items in your dishwasher can save you a lot of time and effort.”
This is a quick and easy way to clean lots of smaller items around the house. Just follow 2 guidelines: First, only sturdy items go in the bottom rack; everything else goes into the top rack to avoid damage. (When in doubt, choose the top rack just to be safe!) Second, in most cases, you can wash non-dish items and dishes in the same load without worry.
With this advice in place, you can start using your dishwasher to better advantage. Here are all the things that clean up well when washed this way:
BASEBALL CAPS. Toss sweaty or dirty ball caps into the top rack of your dishwasher to clean them. With this approach they aren’t twisted and smashed out of shape like they are when washed in the washing machine.
FLIP FLOPS. This is such an easy and effective way to clean and brighten them up.
VACUUM ATTACHMENTS. When was the last time you cleaned your vacuum attachments? Toss them in the top rack of your dishwasher to clear out any dirt that may be trapped inside them. Clean tools are much nicer to use than dirty ones, don’t you think?
HAIRBRUSHES. Unless your hairbrush is made of wood or has natural bristles, you can clean it in your dishwasher. (Just try to remove as much hair from it as possible beforehand, and allow it to air dry for several hours or overnight afterward.)
EXHAUST FAN FILTERS. If your bathroom exhaust fan filter looks dusty, chances are the fan are good the fan may not be working properly. Non-electrical parts are easy to clean in your dishwasher.
DISH SPONGES AND BRUSHES. Even cleaning tools need to be cleaned occasionally, especially germ magnets like kitchen sponges, brushes, scrubbers, etc.
SILICONE HOT PADS AND TRIVETS. Many of today’s kitchen accessories are made from silicone, both because it can withstand high temperatures and because it’s easy to clean. So why not clean your silicone trivet, oven mitts, spoon rest, sponge holder, and other accessories in the top rack of your dishwasher?
FRIDGE SHELVES AND BINS. These can safely rest on either rack. Talk about an easy way to clean them!
LIGHT FIXTURES, SWITCH PLATES, OUTLET COVERS. Dusty light covers go on the bottom and grimy switch plates and outlet covers go on the top. You’ll love how they sparkle once cleaned this way.
AIR VENT COVERS. What a smart and easy way to clean these super dusty necessities!
BATHROOM ACCESSORIES AND BATH ITEMS. Load the soap dish, toothbrush holder, loofah, and other such items into the top rack.
TOYS. All kinds of kids’ small toys clean up in the dishwasher. If anything has small parts, zip those into a mesh laundry bag to ensure they won’t go missing.
PET STUFF. Besides food and water bowls, synthetic collars and leashes, and plastic toys do just fine in the dishwasher.
Does the dishwasher deserve applause or what? This is one versatile appliance!
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
