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Dirty dishes aren’t the only things you can wash in the dishwasher. Much like your washing machine, your dishwasher offers a quick and easy way to clean a surprising array of household items, and you’ll find out exactly what can go in the dishwasher in this guide.
Making the most of your dishwasher’s cleaning capabilities is an easy way to save time and effort without sacrificing your standards of home cleanliness. (Just don’t forget to clean your dishwasher regularly to help keep it in tip-top shape!)
Table Of Contents
What Can Go In The Dishwasher? 4 Rules To Follow
- Sturdy items can go in the bottom rack of your dishwasher, but everything else should go in the top rack to avoid potential damage. (When in doubt, choose the top rack — better safe than sorry!)
- You can wash dishes and other household items in the same load without worry (unless the household items are heavily soiled or very grimy — you may want to wash those separately.)
- Use the normal amount of dishwasher detergent when cleaning things in the dishwasher.
- Zip small items into a mesh laundry bag and place the bag in the top rack of your dishwasher. It’s an easy way to prevent small items from getting lost or knocked around during the wash cycle. (See the video at the end of this post for more!)
19 Things You Can Wash In The Dishwasher
1. Silk Flowers
Say goodbye to that stubborn layer of dust and grime on your faux flowers! Allow them to air dry before putting them back on display.
2. Baseball Caps
Put sweaty or dirty baseball caps in the top rack of your dishwasher to clean them. (Be sure the hat has a sturdy plastic brim! Almost all modern caps do — vintage caps with cardboard brims should be carefully cleaned by hand.)
3. Flip-Flops
Use your dishwasher to make grimy flip-flops look as good as new! One regular dishwasher cycle is all it takes.
4. Vacuum Attachments
When was the last time you cleaned your vacuum attachments? Toss them in the top rack of your dishwasher to clear out any dirt that may be trapped inside them.
5. Hairbrushes And Combs
You can clean plastic hairbrushes and combs in your dishwasher (but not wooden brushes or those with natural bristles.) Remove any hair trapped in the brush beforehand and allow it to air dry overnight.
6. Gardening Tools
Your dishwasher can wash away all the dirt and grime stuck to your trowel and keep your clipper clean and hygienic. Knock off and loose dirt before putting them in your dishwasher.
7. Exhaust Fans
If your bathroom exhaust fan looks particularly dusty, it may be preventing the fan from working properly. The cover and other non-electrical parts are easy to clean in your dishwasher to keep your bathroom fan working efficiently.
8. Kitchen Sponges And Brushes
Your cleaning tools need to be cleaned too, especially germ magnets like kitchen sponges, brushes, and scrubbers. Put these items in the top rack regularly to keep them free of germs.
9. Silicone Accessories
Many of our modern kitchen tools and accessories are made of heat-resistant silicone and are easy to clean in a dishwasher. Toss your silicone trivets, oven mitts, spoon rest, sponge holder, and other silicone accessories in the top rack of your dishwasher to clean them.
10. Microwave Turntables
When microwave spills happen, the turntable usually takes the brunt of the mess. Just load that messy turntable into the bottom rack of your dishwasher to clean it up!
11. Vases
Use your dishwasher to clean out any gunk that may be clinging to the bottom of your vases. Sturdy glass and ceramic vases should do fine in the bottom rack, but delicate vases should go in the top rack.
12. Fridge Shelves And Bins
If you’ve never had a spill in your fridge that reached down into the produce bins, consider yourself lucky! But if you ever do end up in such a sticky situation, load the sticky shelves and bins into your dishwasher to make cleanup easier.
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13. Light Fixtures, Switch Plates, And Outlet Covers
The plastic covers on your switch plates and outlets are pretty much always dirtier than you’d think, and light fixture covers often become dust-ridden resting places for long-departed bugs. Clean them all quickly and easily in your dishwasher — plastic plates on top, sturdy light covers on bottom.
14. Air Vent Covers
The metal covers over the vents of a central heating or air conditioning system are another frequent repository for dust and debris. Load the covers into the top rack to give them a good cleaning, hands-free!
15. Desk Accessories
Instead of cleaning all the knick-knacks on your desk by hand, load metal or plastic pencil cups, paper trays, organizers, and even small trash bins into your dishwasher to clean them.
16. Bathroom Accessories
Get your bathroom accessories looking as good as new! Your soap dish, toothbrush holder, and other such items can go right into the top rack.
17. Loofahs, Sponges, And Brushes
The sponges and scrubbers you use in the bath can get bogged down with soap scum and product residue over time. A quick wash can give them new life!
18. Toys
You can clean all kinds of toys in your dishwasher — small plastic toys, bath toys, blocks, etc. (Zip toys with small parts into a mesh bag first to ensure they won’t go missing.)
19. Pet Accessories
You can clean a variety of pet toys, gear, and accessories in your dishwasher. Load plastic pet toys, food and water bowls, synthetic collars, and leashes into the top rack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Wash Cast Iron Pans In The Dishwasher?
I don’t recommend it. Hand washing is a much safer way to clean cast iron. Check out my guide about cleaning and caring for cast iron for more on that.
Can Stainless Steel Go In The Dishwasher?
Yes! Almost anything made of stainless steel can be safely cleaned in a dishwasher. Aluminum is less durable and more susceptible to damage than stainless steel, so it’s wise to double-check that your cookware or bakeware is indeed stainless steel before loading it into your dishwasher.)
Can I Wash Insulated Plastic Mugs In The Dishwasher?
I don’t recommend it. Insulated mugs, particularly ones made of plastic, can melt or separate in the hot conditions of a dishwasher. It’s much safer to wash cups like those by hand!
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Can I Put Manicure And Pedicure Tools In The Dishwasher?
Yes, you can! Larger tools can go in the silverware basket, while smaller ones should go in a zippered mesh bag on the top rack.
Conclusion
You can use your dishwasher to clean all kinds of things, from glass vases to plastic toys. I love using my dishwasher to thoroughly clean smaller items because they come out squeaky clean without me lifting a finger!
Do you clean unconventional items in your dishwasher?
