Your dishwasher should be working harder for you. No really… There are all sorts of things that wash up sparkly and gorgeous in the dishwasher you’ve probably never even considered before.
Here’s a list of more than 30 everyday household items that you can wash up in your dishwasher — no scrubbing required.
Contact lens cases
Sterilize contacts lens cases occasionally by popping the pieces into your dishwasher’s silverware tray.
Plastic toys
Plastic toys can take a quick bath on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Toothbrushes
Give your toothbrush an occasional wash in the dishwasher silverware tray to cut grime and germs.
Bathroom accessories
And while you’re at it, chuck your toothbrush holder and soap dish in the dishwasher too.
Hats
Wash baseball and other cotton caps in the top dishwasher rack.
Makeup brushes
Give those makeup brushes a makeover with a run through the dishwasher in the silverware tray.
Hair brushes
The dishwasher will also get your hairbrushes and combs clean.
Sponges and scrubbers
After cleaning, toss your household scubbers, sponges and brushes in the dishwasher.
Dog gear
Dog bowls and chew toys clean up great in the dishwasher.
Light covers
Dusty and dirty light globes and covers come out of the dishwasher sparkling clean.
Vent covers
Pop dusty vent covers and even small screens in the dishwasher to get all the cracks clean.
Shoes
All kinds of shoes from rain boots to sneakers, flip-flops and Crocs come out of the dishwasher as good as new.
Sports gear
Throw your kids’ stinky sports gear like pads, mouth and shin guards and even cleats in the dishwasher.
Potatoes
There are all sorts of tips out there for how to use your dishwasher to cook everything from salmon to lasagna. But that just sounds gross. If you must experiment with food in the dishwasher, go ahead and use it to clean your potatoes before cooking. But even that sounds dicey to us.
Knobs and pulls
Oven knobs and cabinet pulls clean up nicely in the dishwasher.
Tools
Keep tools clean with the occasional trip through the dishwasher too.
Trivets
Food-splattered trivets also clean up in a jiffy in the dishwasher.
Home accessories
Accessories like vases and other tchotchkes around your house return to their original gleam in the dishwasher.
Nail clippers
Can you remember the last time you washed those nail clippers or manicure tools? Toss them in the next load.
Tweezers
Ditto for those dirty tweezers in your drawer.
Hair clips and ties
Hair clips, ties and other accessories gunked up with products come out of the dishwasher fresh and clean.
Oral syringe
Those oral syringes you use to give your kids medicine should go through the dishwasher for disinfecting.
Pill cases
Keep pill cases clean and free of debris by washing in the dishwasher every couple of months.
Purses, totes and shoppers
Place any plastic, waterproof purses, bags, totes or shoppers upside down in the dishwasher to clean up messes.
Brooms and dust pans
Dusty and dirty plastic broom heads, mops and dust pans are perfect for the dishwasher.
Clothes
In a pinch, you can wash your clothes in the dishwasher. Just make sure to use a tiny bit of detergent so suds don’t fill the kitchen and since there’s no spin cycle, squeeze clothes between two towels to wring the excess water out and hang dry.
Golf balls
You don’t need a fancy golf ball washer. A mesh bag and a dishwasher is even better — and faster.
Ball pit balls
Same goes for those ball pit balls. Throw ’em in a mesh bag in the dishwasher to get all those germs off.
Pacifiers
Make sure the mall floor scum is totally cleaned off the binky by running it through the dishwasher.
Filters
Filters for everything from coffee makers to hot tubs come out of a dishwasher cycle as good as new.
Parts
Next time you’re fixing the vacuum cleaner or other appliance, clean the parts in the dishwasher before re-assembling.
Pin it
Reference this list to see all the things you can stuff in there.
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