Dishwashers are among the most undervalued home appliances. We only tend to use it for washing dishes, but did you know there’s much more to it?
You got it right!
Dishwashers are not only for sanitizing dishes; you may also use them for various other purposes, including kitchen sponges sanitization, cleaning your pet or kids’ toys, washing hats or other handy items of clothing, etc.
To help you get started, here in this article, we share a few things your dishwasher can do to help in your household chores.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Washing Handy Garments in a Dishwasher
When washing hats, you probably don’t think twice about using a washing machine or hand-washing it yourself. But what if you can do it in a dishwasher?
Yes, dishwashers are a sustainable method to clean robust, thin fabric garments like hats.
But it’s not recommended to wash every other cloth in a dishwasher. After all, washing machines are there for a reason. A dishwasher can only be used sometimes to sanitize basic sturdy garments.
However, be sure to use a gentle cleaning cycle as dishwashing machines use hot water and high pressure to clean dishes, which can be extremely harsh on cleaning garments.
Therefore, using a low-pressure, mild detergent cleaning cycle would be smart, and only wash sturdy, thin garments like hats in a dishwasher.
2. Cleaning Toothbrush Holder
Cleaning a toothbrush holder is one of the other things your dishwasher can do best.
It’s a quick and easy method that you may use to keep your toothbrush holder sanitized so that it prevents all germs or bacteria buildup.
To wash your toothbrush holder, simply place the holder in the top rack of the dishwasher and run it on the normal cycle. You’ll be amazed at how clean it comes out.
Also, it will help you save much of your time in the long run.
3. Sanitizing Toys
Cleaning toys can be difficult at times, especially the smaller ones. Luckily, your dishwasher can solve that problem in just a few minutes!
Just pop the toys in the dishwasher, and run a normal cycle. The hot water and steam will kill bacteria or germs, and your toys will come out clean and safe for your kids to play with.
Plus, this method is much easier than hand-washing each toy individually.
So next time your kids’ toys need a good cleaning, don’t hesitate to reach for the dishwasher.
4. Clean Your Vegetables and Fruits
Rather than cleaning your fruits and veggies individually one by one, make this task a little quicker using a dishwasher.
All you will need is a tray that you can fill up with the veggies and fruits you want to clean. Then, put them inside the washer and run the machine with a delicate cleaning cycle.
Don’t forget to keep fragile items like tomatoes or strawberries on the top rack or away from the washing machine’s spin arm.
On the other hand, you may put hardier veggies like carrots or potatoes in the bottom rack as they can survive the fast spinning pressure there.
5. Wash Your Sports Gear
Dishwashers are great for removing all the dirt, sweat, and grime that can build up on your sports gear.
This is a great way to clean equipment that is difficult to wash by hand or that you don’t want to put in the washing machine. Just make sure you put the gear in a mesh bag first so it doesn’t get damaged in the dishwasher.
So, don’t hesitate to throw your sports items in the dishwasher next time. Your gear will come out looking and smelling fresh, and you’ll be able to extend the life of your gear by keeping it clean and well-maintained.
6. Clean Your Jewelry
One of the best things your dishwasher can do is clean your jewelry. It’s true.
When it comes to cleaning jewelry, this home appliance work incredibly well; within minutes, it can take the grime off of the items and deliver you clean ornaments.
Although this technique may be useful, there are a few things to consider.
- Only put jewelry in the dishwasher that can withstand high temperatures.
- Use a gentle cycle and skip the drying cycle to avoid damage.
- Finally, remove your jewelry immediately after cleaning to avoid further damage.
7. Freshen Up Flip-Flops
If your flip-flops look a little worse for wear, throw them in the dishwasher!
This may sound strange, but it really works. The dishwasher will clean off any dirt or grime on the flip-flops and also help get rid of any bad smells.
Just pop them in on the top shelf and run a normal cycle. They’ll look good as new when they come out!
4 Things You Should Never Put in Your Dishwasher
While your dishwasher is great for cleaning many things besides pots and dishes, some items should never be cleaned in this kitchen appliance. These include:
- Glassware: Dishes made of glass, even those labeled “dishwasher safe,” can lose their luster and become cloudy from the chemicals in dishwashing detergent. Hand-wash your fine glassware to keep it looking its best.
- Cast iron: This tough cookware can rust if it’s not seasoned correctly, so it’s best to wash it by hand.
- Nonstick cookware: The harsh chemicals in dishwashing detergent can damage the nonstick coating on your pots and pans. So to extend the life of your cookware, wash it by hand using mild soap and water.
- Delicate items: China, crystal, and other delicate items can break or chip in the dishwasher. Play it safe and hand-wash these items to keep them in pristine condition.
Conclusion
Over the years, dishwashers have undergone significant advancements, which have made them useful in handling various other cleaning chores.
So, to answer the question of what things your dishwasher can do other than cleaning and drying the dishes includes a long list of tasks, some of which have been mentioned above.
In this article, we tried to elaborate on the primary cleaning tasks for which a dishwasher can be used. So, now that you know, take advantage of all the great things your dishwasher offers.
