If you’ve only been using your dishwasher for actual pots, pans, plates, and utensils, you’re barely scratching the surface on how that beautiful machine can help make your life easier!
I’ll admit, I have spent a lot of time washing all of these items by hand over the years, but now that I know how much of my energy I’ve been wasting, I wish I could go back in time.
I’ve also definitely just thrown some of these out when they got too grimy for me to handle looking at, so this will totally save me all the money I’ve been spending on replacements. Obviously, you need to make sure to look out for which ones require detergent and which ones are better off with a simple hot bath, but either way, you’re going to have some free time on your hands while the machine does all the dirty work!
Did we miss something else you like to toss in the dishwasher? Leave a comment below and be sure to SHARE these amazing tips with your friends!
Thumbnail Source: Flickr, Cook & Sons, Bradylou
1. Keys
Throw these in with your next load of dishes to get rid of all the germs they gather while jangling around your pocket or purse for weeks at a time.
2. Baseball Caps
Those gross sweat stains will disappear with a good scrub in the super hot water!
3. Potatoes
This will save you so much time when you're prepping for a big family dinner or event, and you can do the same for pretty much any other veggie that requires a hot rinse before cooking. Obviously, leave the detergent out of this one.
4. Sponges
Pop these in with your load after rinsing off the dishes to get rid of any bacteria that might be hanging around.
5. Fridge Shelves
All the stains from leaky milk and loose takeout containers can be rinsed away. The same goes for your drawers, if you have a machine big enough to fit them on the bottom rack!
6. Stove Fan Grills
I remember being in actual pain trying to scrub the grease off my overhead fan's grill a few months ago, but it turns out I should have detached it and let the dishwasher take care of that for me.
7. Toothbrushes
Make sure it's one that won't melt or and that the bristles won't be ruined. And again, don't add detergent to this round.
8. Hairbrushes
Cleanse all the skin cells and oils clinging to your plastic brushes without breaking a sweat.
9. Makeup Brushes
These love to hide germs that could lead to mold, which is something you definitely don't want on your face. So plop them in the utensil basket without detergent every few weeks.
10. Plastic Kids Toys
Kids love sticking their favorite toys in their mouths, so a regular rinse every week or so in the super hot water is a good idea to keep bacteria at bay.
11. Pet Toys
Same goes for your fuzzy friend's chew toys! Obviously, the fabric ones that haven't been ripped to shreds would be better off in the clothes washer, but this will make plastic ones squeaky clean again.
Did we miss something you always toss in with your dishes? Let us know in the comments and please SHARE with your friends!
