Dishwasher Tips Update 01 ► Non-Dish Uses

Dishwasher Tips Update 01 ► Non-Dish Uses

It may be called a “dishwasher,” but the handy kitchen appliance can clean a lot more than dishes. Think creatively when you’re on a cleaning spree, and you might be able to combine a number of washing tasks all thanks to that one handy machine. In fact, your dishwasher not only saves you time, but it uses hotter water than your poor dishpan hands can stand. Of course, there are limits to what your dishwasher should handle. Be careful, too, when loading items.

Most dishwashers feature heating elements on the bottom. So, lightweight plastic items could warp or melt if you load them on the bottom level. Small items can often fit in your silverware caddy. A top-rack-only Munchkin dishwasher basket (about $7) is good for anything you fear might jump around inside the machine.

Here are some surprising items you might not have realized you can clean in your dishwasher:

1. Some Instant Pot parts -- The Company states that the following parts are dishwasher-safe: Lid, sealing ring, inner pot, and steaming rack.

2. Oven mitts -- Oven mitts take a beating, with everything from gravy to hot caramel accidentally decorating them with new, unwanted designs. Silicone mitts can go in the dishwasher, while cloth ones can be tossed in your washing machine.

3. Dish scrubbers and sponges -- Don’t forget to clean the items you clean with. Stash sponges on the top rack, while long-handled brushes can go in your utensil holder.

4. Trivets -- Stoneware and earthenware trivets and spoon rests are often top-rack dishwasher safe. But use common sense — as you should for many items in this list. Grandma’s gift with the hand-painted sunflowers is too gorgeous to gamble with.

5. Microwave turntables -- Glass turntables can generally go in the dishwasher. If you’re nervous about it, first check your microwave owner’s manual.

6. Refrigerator shelves and bins -- You may have to run that load by itself, as these items can be bulky.

7. Trash can lids and wastebaskets -- Do you have one of those plastic trash cans with a swinging lid? Swing the lid in the dishwasher. Do you have wastebaskets that are small enough to fit in your dishwasher and are from a dishwasher-safe material like hard plastic? Toss them in, too.

8. Toothbrush and soap holders -- When soap and toothpaste drip and dry on bathroom accessories, they leave an unsightly and sometimes germ-ridden mess. Give them a good shower on the dishwasher’s top shelf.

9. Hairbrushes and hair accessories -- First, strip as much hair from the brush as you can. Then, pop the brush into your silverware holder. Keep ponytail holders, barrettes and similar hair accessories pristine by washing them in the dishwasher, too. Be sure to secure small items so they don’t fall through the shelf.

10. Shower poofs

11. Contact-lens cases and pill boxes.

12. Vent covers -- Cleaning the dust out of all the little nooks and crannies of ceiling and floor air vent covers is time consuming drudgery. To prevent metal covers from rusting, run them through a short dishwasher cycle and promptly dry them by hand.

13. Dustpans, broom heads and vacuum attachments -- Use the top rack and a low-heat cycle if they have rubber rings or other parts inside, or if you’re just unsure.

14. Pet bowls and toys

15. Flower or plant pots -- Run terracotta and hard plastic planters through the dishwasher after brushing off any clumps of dirt that could clog pipes. The super-heated water will help kill any plant diseases that might linger.

16. Hubcaps -- First, gently hose off your hubcaps if they’re especially muddy or grimy. You might also want to pour a cup of white vinegar into your dishwasher’s rinse-aid compartment before you start, and make sure they ride through the dishwasher alone.

17. Golf balls -- Putt them into the utensil holder or a mesh lingerie bag,

[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Gael F. Cooper | January 9, 2019}