Next to yourself, the dishwasher truly is the unsung hero of the kitchen. It can clean SO much more than everyday cups and dinner plates.
It’s worth noting there are some things you definitely shouldn’t put in the dishwasher. For cast iron pots, sharp knives, heirloom pieces and anything made from wood, the dishwasher is an automatic no-go zone. Always check and if you’re unsure and proceed with caution. Pop them on the top rack or go old-school and wash by hand.
But for many other items, they can certainly go in the dishwasher and save you a whole lot of time, patience and energy! So, in the interests of passing on some pretty epic ideas, here’s 13 things to get your list started!
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1. Kitchen scrubbing brushes and sponges
If your dishwashing sponges or scrubbing brush is looking nasty, pop it in the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes for a spruce up. The high-temperature blitzes bugs and they’ll emerge clean and fresh!
2. Exhaust fan covers
Those plastic exhaust fan covers can be placed in the dishwasher for a super easy clean. No more scrubbing or soaking. Easily done!
3. Oven racks
Yep, if that cake you cooked overflowed on to all your oven racks, run them through a dishwasher cycle instead of tackling them individually. Sweet!
4. Kids’ bath toys
Everyone knows how gross kids’ bath toys can get. Give them a scrub-a-dub-dub experience of their own in the kitchen dishwasher.
5. Kids’ plastic toys
Teething rings, blocks, plastic animals – many toys (with no batteries) will be ok to be washed at a warm temperature on the top rack of the dishwasher. Sure beats standing at a sink, scrubbing mashed banana off of toys!
6. Thongs
As in your go-to summer footwear, thongs. Stepped in sticky ice cream or the like? Once again, the dishwasher comes to the rescue!
7. Electric frying pans
You might be surprised to learn that your electric frying pan can go in the dishwasher. No more soaking! Check your pan manual to see if it IS indeed dishwasher safe!
8. Pet water and food bowls
We wouldn’t eat or drink from a dirty bowl, so we shouldn’t expect our fur kids to either! Add the pet’s food and water bowls to the dishwasher for a hygienic, thorough clean.
9. Sink drains
While the dishwasher can clean just about everything but the kitchen sink, it CAN clean those drain catcher plugs. And crikey, those things can get really gross. Never fear, the dishwasher brings them up nice and sparkly!
10. Hair combs and accessories
If you have a child who dances or anyone in the family uses hairspray, you’ll know there’s a sticky build up on combs and hair ties. Good news folks, they too can go in the dishwasher!
11. Greasy shed tools
Yep, those WD40 covered tools from the shed (no wooden handles though!) can be de-greased using the top rack of the dishwasher. Dry them off straight away to prevent rusting.
12. Baseball caps
Anyone who has washed a baseball cap in the washing machine will know it doesn’t always end well. Alas, the dishwasher is the answer. You can get cap wash cages to help caps keep their shape. Load it up, switch it on and voila! Fresh headwear.
13. Baby bottles
Bottle manufacturers have come a LONG way and many baby bottle brands are suitable for washing in the top rack of the dishwasher. Just DON’T wash them with remnants of a curry or spaghetti dinner or they may come out clean, but stained orange.
There you have it! 13 brilliant dishwasher cleaning hacks, what’s something you regularly clean in the dishwasher?
