Did you know your dishwasher can be used for a lot more things than just to cook?
Well, it can. Most people are not aware of the amazing things that can be done in a dishwasher. I thought I would share several the alternative uses here in hopes that at least a few of these tips would prove handy to you. I will also share some of the things I have learned NOT to put in the dishwasher.
I like to get the biggest bang for my buck. Who doesn't, right? I began to think about alternate uses for the common things I had within my household. I focused on the dishwasher. It seemed a shame to use spend all that money on such a nice appliance to use it only for dishes. I decided I would experiment a little. With a little trial and error, I discovered some grand uses for the dishwasher as well as some definite NO-NO's for the dishwasher. I guess I should add that the children who either live in or frequent our house did a few experiments of their own.
Some of them didn't turn out so well. For example, crayons, the children discovered, are not meant to go in the dishwasher. I already knew this, however, some things one simply must learn on their own. Sometimes, the temptation of being told not to do something is just too great for little minds.
The first thing I asked myself was how to know if something is dishwasher safe or not. The dishwasher, by virtue of being built to clean dishes, is a pretty safe environment. We all know that the dishwasher will have high heat and high water pressure. Add to that strong detergents and chemicals and we have a lot going on inside there when it is running. Jets shoot hot pressurized water from different angles, depending on your dishwasher model, in order to efficiently clean your dishes. With that in mind, I began to think about how to tell if something would likely be safe in the dishwasher.
Any item that cannot handle the heat produced in the dishwasher, or the possible agitation of being knocked around or banged against other dishes or the racks would be considered to be unsafe for the dishwasher. If items could potentially come apart in the dishwasher and hit other items during the cycle (like glassware or dishes) it would naturally be unsafe for the dishwasher. Small plastic items can melt a bit or be thrown around and hit the heating element which could cause melting. The small melted plastic items can also melt into dishwasher parts causing damage to your appliance. Not all small plastic items are unsafe to use, but it is best to secure them before turning on the dishwasher. Even some plastic items that are said to be dishwasher safe eventually get fine cracks in them, rendering them unusable. It is good to know that just because something says it is dishwasher safe does not necessarily mean It cannot still be damaged in the dishwasher. Some items are considered safe for top shelf only. Even still, pots and pans with handles made of plastic and similar materials can certainly be damaged from the high heat. One should NEVER put good knives in the dishwasher, as the agitation will dull the blade and they can look dingy pretty fast when they sustain dings and scratches from other items.
This brings me to wooden spoons, utensils with wooden handles, non-stick and anodized pots and pans, non-stick burner covers, etc. Perhaps not initially, but after sustained use, the dishwasher will slowly causes damage to them. The non-stick surfaces of pans will begin to crack and peel up in tiny places. (I have read that this is NOT safe to use when cooking food intended for consumption.) Wooden spoons or wooden handled items often splinter. Lets face it. You paid good money for these items. You want to take care of them right?
Many of us have nice dishes that have a band of silver or gold around the serving dish for decoration. Let me advise you right away that it is best to hand wash these fine items. The pressure of the water in the dishwasher can often damage them. To keep them looking pretty enough to use for guests, I would never chance putting them in the dishwasher.
Sure, your dishwasher makes quick work of cleaning dirty plates and cups, but lets move on to items that I found can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
1. Shower Heads and Faucet HandlesWe have hard water at our house. This takes a toll on shower heads and faucets. If your shower head is spraying sporadically from clogged holes or your faucet handles aren’t as shiny as they once were, place these on the top rack and run the pots and pans cycle. It’s fine to run cookware through at the same time, so you’re not wasting a wash for these few items. Choose the heavy duty or pots and pans cycle for this job.
Tip: I fill a plastic bag with vinegar and water and tie it around my shower head the night before taking it down to run it through the dishwasher. This is really helpful if you have hard water.
2. Shin guards, knee pads, and mouth guards
Toss them all into the top rack of the dishwasher. You will be surprised how nice they come out.
If you have been washing hats in the washing machine, you know they can get bent. The dishwasher does a much better job at cleaning them. You can invest in a ball cap washer or you can place the hat on the top rack of the dishwasher, head opening down, on a separate wash cycle from dishes. (Food particles can get trapped in the cloth of the hat, so wash without food items.) Tip: Do NOT use dishwasher detergent when washing your hat in the dishwasher. Most dishwashing agents contain bleach, which can ruin the hat your paid good money for. Instead, fill a laundry detergent cup with Borax. (You can buy this at most supermarkets or big box stores.)
Clean the hat using a regular cycle. Avoid using the heat dry option as this can warp some hats. When your hat is done, hang it over a jar or a glass to dry.
Tip: The best time to reshape the brim is while the hat is wet.
4.Ceramic cabinet knobs
Place these in the silverware basket and they do just fine. This is a real time saver.
5. Kitchen Dish Sponges and BrushesThere is something completely gross about kitchen cleaning sponges. I have read where some people soak them in lemon juice or a bit of lemon water. I admit I have done this. I also put my kitchen sponges in my microwave for about 2 minutes every day. Whenever I run the dishwasher, I toss my sponges in on the top shelf. When I take them out, I run them through the microwave for 2 minutes and then stand them to dry.
6. Light-fixture, light covers, globes & some vases
You will be surprised how much brighter your room will look with clean light fixtures. Place all of these items on the top shelf of the dishwasher, allowing a bit of space between them. Remember, this type of glass is a bit more fragile than the glassware you are accustomed to putting in the dishwasher.
Choose whatever delicate cycles your dishwasher has for items such as crystal or china. Unless your dishwasher has an extremely low heat cycle, I would skip the heat cycle and hand dry these delicate items. Tip: Do NOT wash fixtures that have been painted, enameled or antiqued.
7. Tools: both garden and tool with metal or plastic handles
**Do NOT run these items through with a load of dishes as they may have come in contact with pesticides or animals. Also...remember not to wash items with wooden handles.
To prevent your tools from rusting, I would advise removing promptly and hand drying them.
8.Pet Bowls and Toys
Let me first say that pet food dishes need to be washed or sanitized EVERY day, or so I believe. If I am not running my dishwasher, I wash the feeding bowls with soap and water and then in a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water. ( I also keep this in a spray bottle to use in my kitchens and bathroom on a daily basis) This solution is fine for toys too. If I am running my dishwasher with hot and using high heat to dry, I toss in my pets stainless steel feeding bowls. My veterinarian recommends this to keep both pets and family from getting sick. Our pediatrician recommends running a separate wash if anyone in your home is suffering from and auto-immune type illness.
Some dog toys are NOT safe for the dishwasher. (some plastics, rope or rawhide toys)
When it doubt, I would recommend skipping the dishwasher and using the bleach solution described above.
9. Kitchen Appliance PartsThis tip, at least to me, is a major time saver. I am going to be cleaning all this stuff anyway, so why not save time and pop it all in the dishwasher at once. Voila'! You will be amazed at the time you saved! Once a week, load all of these into the dishwasher to make the whole kitchen seem cleaner and shinier: chrome drip pans, enamel-coated gas grates and burner caps, fridge water dispenser grate, sink plugs, microwave tray and range hood grease filters. Use the normal washing cycle.
10.Personal Care ItemsHairbrushes, Combs, Toothbrushes, toothbrush holders, goopy soap dishes, nail brushes, plastic makeup brushes and bathtub drain plugs all benefit from an occasional run through the dishwasher.
My dentist actually recommends running toothbrushes through the dishwasher daily. (I have to admit, I don't do it every day but at least a few times a week.) Remover all hair from hairbrushes and combs before placing in the dishwasher, as this can cause a nasty clog. Place on the top rack with smaller items tucked in a lingerie bag or in a dishwasher basket, and wash on a normal cycle with your other dishes.
TIP: DO NOT use on wood handled or natural boar-bristled brushes because the heat and water pressure can damage them.
11. All those kitchen & Household extras: Butter Dishes, Sugar Bowls, Spoon Rests, and Salt and Pepper Shakers, Fan grilles, switch plates, and vent covers
Look around your kitchen & house. There are a lot of items that get handled often that collect grease and grime. I am talking about condiment and refillable spice containers, and even your storage containers filled with things like sugar, flour, etc. Periodically empty all these containers and wash these along with your regular loads. Tip: Make sure they are completely dry before refilling.
For household extras like switch plates, fan grilles or vent covers, remember if they can be put in the dishwasher if they are plastic, aluminum, or steel. Enameled, painted, or plated should not be put in the dishwasher.
12. Rain boots
While Crocs are not dishwasher safe, you can clean rain boots in the dishwasher. Simply remove the liners and lie them horizontally. Hook flip-flops on tines in the top rack. (I haven't tried this yet but a friends tells me it works like a charm.)
13. Plastic toys like action figures and other small toys:
I will happily tell you that these need to be washed often. It is really so simple to do that there is no reason not to do it. Just load a mesh lingerie bag or a dishwasher basket with the small toys and place on the top rack. You can wash these on a regular or normal cycle.
Couple of tips here:
Be careful not to wash dolls with pretty hair, (like Barbies) in the dishwasher. Believe me, she will never look the same if you do!
Next, we have all seen those little bathtub toys with a tiny hole in the bottom meant to be used in the bathtub with little children. The only place I believe these belong is IN THE TRASH! No matter how hard you try to clean these toys or how you attempt to dry them, one can never get all the water out of them. What happens? Well, after a time, something grows in them. When you go to squeeze the water out, you will see something black that comes out. This is bacteria. Even using 1/10 bleach solution didn't do the trick. That simply can't be good for any child to put in their mouths. Folk! Avoid buying these and if you have any for baby, I would encourage you to throw them out immediately. Not worth making baby sick.
Tip: If hand washing in sink, place a dishcloth in the bottom of the sink to avoid breakage.
**One thing I do and would advise is that if I wash anything besides dishes in my dishwasher, I run a cycle afterward with nothing but soap in it or a cup of vinegar sitting on the top rack. I also frequently wipe the inside of my dishwasher out with the same 1:10 bleach solution that I use on many other things. This takes only a moment. Can't hurt right?
Now, just for those of you who might be wondering. No, I am not a germophobe. There are germs everywhere and we cannot avoid coming in contact with them. I do believe in avoiding germs whenever possible. I have been reminded more than once about how people once grew up and what germs they came in contact with on a daily basis and how they all survived. I get all that. The thing is that today, we battle some germs that are pretty hard to fight and we are running out of antibiotics that prove effective in treating them. While we cannot omit germs, (and it would be laughable to even try) I do believe in trying to avoid them when possible. The tips I have provided above are mostly for those with lots of "jobs" to do around the house and have very little time to do them. I am simply making good use of an appliance in ways that some may not have thought of. My suggested tips are more to save time than anything. After all, what mom wouldn't like a few extra minutes to sit down and snuggle with her children or actually have time to watch a television show with them?
Happy Dishwashing!
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