For almost 130 years, dishwashers have been making household chores easier. At the touch of a button, they effortlessly perform what would otherwise require a great deal of manual labor and time. But dishwashers don’t just perform miracles when it comes to washing up – they can do much more. Other things can also be cleaned without a hitch.
10 Surprising Things You Can Clean in a Dishwasher
Here you’ll discover how the dishwasher can make cleaning your home a whole lot easier.
1. glass shades
They bring light into rooms – and whether they’re clean or not makes all the difference. To do this, wash the dirty shade in the top drawer of the dishwasher. The pieces will shine again.
2. cleaning shower heads in the dishwasher
If they’re used regularly, showerheads will scale up or clog up after a short time. You can easily dismantle them and clean them in the dishwasher – if possible while they’re hot – for example, with pots and pans.
3. Hair accessories
Combs, hairbrushes, elastics and barrettes are easy to clean in the dishwasher. Start by removing all the hair to avoid clogging the dishwasher filter. And don’t clean real wood products in the dishwasher. Hair accessories are best placed in the cutlery basket.
4. baseball hats and caps
Especially in summer, baseball hats and caps form unsightly sweat rings. They quickly lose their shape in the washing machine, but keep well in the dishwasher. Just make sure you don’t put any dishes in there at the same time.
5. plastic toys
Children’s toys quickly get dirty. As little ones are constantly putting them in their mouths, they always need to be clean. You can therefore clean small figurines and other plastic toys in the dishwasher’s washing-up basket.
6. Dog toys
Dogs too can become infected through their toys, especially if they’re still young. However, you should never wash dog toys with normal dishes in the dishwasher.
7. sponges and brushes
Kitchen sponges are almost always a little damp, making them ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. The same applies to dish brushes. Simply wash them once a week with the dishes in the dishwasher to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.
8. kitchen utensils
There are so many little things in the kitchen and bathroom that are difficult to clean by hand. You can make housework easier for yourself by also cleaning the following small utensils in the dishwasher:
- butter boxes
- sugar bowls
- salt and pepper shakers
- soap dishes
- Soap dispensers
- Toothbrush holders
- Nail brushes
- Plastic make-up brushes
9. cleaning shoes in the dishwasher
To remove unpleasant odors and dirt, you can easily clean fabric sneakers in the dishwasher. Rubber or plastic flip-flops and rubber boots can also be cleaned in this way. Shoes or slippers made of leather or with an inner lining, on the other hand, should always be cleaned by hand.
10. large kitchen items
If you look around the kitchen with your eyes open, you’ll certainly find other objects that could benefit from a thorough cleaning. The kitchen rack and microwave plate can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Did you know that the dishwasher can take a lot of the work out of cleaning your home? But before you jump in with gusto, there are a few things you should bear in mind: Not everything can be cleaned in the dishwasher. It’s best to continue cleaning delicate items by hand, such as certain aluminum or copper pots and pans, as well as items made of certain materials, with special surfaces or coatings. A glance at the operating instructions will tell you all you need to know.
