RSS Feed 
Enter the Holiday Hair Bows giveaway.
Lexie (#10) is the winner of the Breastfeeding Set!
22 Unexpected Things to Wash in the Dishwasher
Wednesday July 16, 2008 by Danelle Ice
22 Unexpected Things to Wash in the Dishwasher
The dishwasher can be your greatest convenience for cleaning and sterilizing if you are willing to think outside the box. Gone are the days of hand washing and scrubbing! 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 that a dishwasher’s water temperature must reach 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). Run a full load whenever possible to minimize the energy impact on your utility bill.
Small items can be corralled into handy dishwasher-safe cages and baskets
If you can’t get on board with the idea of washing some of the listed items with your regular dishes, simply run them as a separate load.
From the most commonplace household item to the truly bizarre, here are 22 unusual things to wash in the dishwasher:
1. Kids’ toys. Germophobes everywhere swear by this method of sanitizing baby toys and teethers (including yours truly).
2. Hairbrushes, barrettes, scrunchies and hair ties. Dirt and oil, as well as residue from hair products, can build up on combs, brushes and hair accessories. The top rack is the safest place for these hair tools.
3. Garden tools. Top rack only for plastic-handled tools.
4. Baby bottle brushes, scrub brushes, vegetable brushes. Ensure the bacteria hiding in your kitchen brushes is eliminated.
5. Baseball hats. Get them clean and looking as good as new by washing in the top rack of the dishwasher. There are even cool plastic cap holders for the washer
6. Toothbrushes. Make sure that plaque germs don’t get back into your mouth by way of the toothbrush. Sterilize in the top rack.
7. Pet toys. Eliminate pet saliva and dirt periodically with a nice toy wash.
8. Faux flowers. No more dusting floral arrangements - wash them instead!
9. Kitchen sponges. Kill the germs instead of spreading them around. Sponges can handle 2-3 hot washings before they start to break up.
10. Makeup brushes. Dirt and oil from skin can cling to bristles; sterilize every 2-3 months, depending on frequency of use.
11. Shoes (including athletic shoes, sandals, jelly shoes, crocs, and rubber boots).
12. Plastic broom heads and dustpans. Unscrew the head from your broom handle and kiss the germs goodbye. Top rack placement is recommended to protect the plastic.
13. Keyboards. This how-to article directs washing a keyboard in the dishwasher (be warned: there is some swearing in the linked article).
14. Cages of fans. Completely dismantled (read: no electrical pieces and/or cords!), the front and back cages, as well as removable fan blades, can be washed in a dishwasher to get rid of dirt and grime that clings from the air.
15. Tooth brush holders. Toothpaste and minerals from water can build up on your accessories; wash in the dishwasher from time to time to prevent build-up.
16. Refrigerator shelving. Most modern refrigerator shelving is designed to be dishwasher safe (older appliances are likely not). If in doubt, only wash one shelf to ascertain its dishwasher-safeness. Removal of the top dishwasher rack may be necessary to fit shelves in properly.
17. Soap dishes. Soap buildup can be hard to remove (seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it?!). Dishwashers can have soap dishes looking brand new in no time.
18. Pen holders. Ink from leaky pens can pool up in the bottom of pen jars and cups. A thorough washing may not remove the ink stains, but will prevent the spread of gummy ink to your pens and papers.
19. Cup holder inserts from your car. Many cars now have removable cup holders that are dishwasher safe (thanks go out to Chrysler/Dodge for pioneering this feature for busy moms on the go). No more sticky cup holders!
20. Glass globe covers for light fixtures (don’t use a heavy wash setting). The top rack is safest for these.
21. Trash can lids and trash cans. Take out the top rack to fit a small to medium sized garbage can in the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning.
22. Cooking foods. No this one isn’t a joke! People have honestly cooked meals in their dishwashers. It works because of the containment of extreme heat and steam, causing convection of sorts. Lasagne has been cooked in the dishwasher with success; so has fish (general) and salmon with cilantro.
You Might Like These Similar Articles:
Related Articles:
Comments RSS feed | Trackback URI
10 Comments:
Green Stew » Blog Archive » 22 things you can wash in the dishwasher! said on July 16th, 2008 @ 9:53 am:
[...] Click Here [...]
Pia said on July 17th, 2008 @ 3:47 am:
If you are cooking corn on the cob for a large crowd that can be cooked in the dishwasher. I have not tried it myself but saw it on a cooking show. She removed the husk and silk and just put it in the top rack and ran it through a wash cycle (without soap of course). The audience loved it when she gave it to them afterwards.
Lisa K said on July 17th, 2008 @ 8:40 am:
I’ve never heard of cooking in there before, but it makes sense!
dawntrenee said on July 17th, 2008 @ 2:58 pm:
There are a few thing that I would have never thought of. As a joke when we purchase our Dyson vacuum, I asked if the pieces could be washing in the dishwasher and the sales person said yes. I have never actually tried it, but I have taken it all apart and washed by hand.
admin said on July 17th, 2008 @ 4:40 pm:
@ Jen B: We went without one for a while. It was painful!
@ Beth: You’re welcome!
@ Green Stew: Thanks for the link, ladies 
@ Nest Egg: Thanks, Melinda!
Homemaker Barbi
admin said on July 17th, 2008 @ 4:43 pm:
@ Pia: Corn on the cob is a great idea! Thanks for the tip. If you happen to remember the name of the show it was on, please leave another comment - I’d love to include it in the guide.
@dawntrenee: That is awesome - I’m now going to start researching which vacuums are dishwasher safe. Thanks for the comment!
Homemaker Barbi
pligg.com said on October 8th, 2008 @ 4:34 pm:
22 Unexpected Things to Wash in the Dishwasher…
This is an interesting and entertaining article on 22 things that can be washed in the dishwasher. I knew of some of them from common sense and previous articles but some were new to me. I will definitely be cleaning a few things in the dishwasher th…
Leave a Comment
Homemaker Barbi would love to hear from you!
Please feel free to leave a comment.
Jen B said on July 16th, 2008 @ 5:17 am:
Sigh…if only I had a dishwasher.