The dishwasher is a kitchen’s greatest convenience for cleaning and sterilizing dirty dishes and utensils. Think outside the box and when you have something around the house you really want to get clean that the clothes washer just doesn’t do the job, try popping it in a dishwash cycle. A dishwasher’s water temperature reaches 155° F to kill bacteria, so crank the water to hot (many dishwashers have a “sterilization mode” or cycle, which is necessary to ensure the water is heated high enough to kill bacteria). Placing items in the dishwasher which you wouldn’t normally find there will free up your time while cleaning items more effectively than by hand.
Keep in mind you want to run your dishes and household items in separate loads, food can get stuck in material and possibly stain.
Which items are safe to wash in the dishwasher you may ask? Check out the list below…
- Kid’s Toys, Barbies, Action figures
- Hairbrushes, barrettes, scrunchies, and hair-ties
- Garden tools
- Sports guards
- Baby bottle brushes
- Furniture cushions
- Scrub brushes
- Vegetable brushes
- Baseball hats
- Toothbrushes
- Pet Toys
- Fake flowers
- Kitchen sponges
- Make-Up brushes
- Shoes
- Plastic broom heads and dustpans
- Cages of fans
- Tooth brush holders
- Refrigerator shelving
- Soap dishes
- Pen holders
- Cup holder inserts from your car
- Light fixture covers
- Trash can lids
- Potatoes (make sure to leave out the soap!)
Do you have any additional items you have cleaned in the dishwasher or have heard is an “ok” to pop in the dishwasher? LET US KNOW by COMMENTING BELOW!
