I Started Washing These Items In The Dishwasher — And Cleaning Got Way Easier
I used to waste so much time scrubbing and cleaning a ton of things. It felt like such a waste of time standing at the sink when I had a perfectly good machine designed to wash things right next to me. One day I just decided to experiment with a dirty plastic hairbrush in my dishwasher, and when it came out looking brand new, I knew I had to find out what else I could wash in my dishwasher. It turns out your dishwasher can handle so much more than just plates and forks.
Bathroom Organizers And Soap Dishes
We all turn a blind eye to that grimy buildup on our toothbrush holders and soap dishes because cleaning them is frankly disgusting. Instead of scrubbing, I started tossing my ceramic and hard plastic bathroom organizers right onto the top rack of the dishwasher. The hot water and detergent cut right through that stubborn toothpaste residue and soap scum that usually takes forever to scrub off by hand. Now I just gather them up once a week and run them with my regular load. It keeps the bathroom feeling fresh without any extra effort.
Glass Light Fixtures And Covers
Dusty light fixtures can make a whole room look dim and dingy but trying to wash them is a pain. I found that most glass globes and sturdy plastic covers fit perfectly in the bottom rack of a dishwasher. Just be careful not to let them touch each other so they do not chip or crack. Once they run through a gentle cycle they’ll come out sparkling and clear. It brightens up the room instantly and saves you from trying to polish them by hand on a ladder.
Vacuum Attachments And Dustpans
It seems counterintuitive to clean your cleaning tools but it’s something everyone should do. My vacuum attachments and plastic dustpans get covered in fine dust and grime that just spreads back around the house as I try to clean. I place the smaller attachments in the utensil holder and the dustpans on the top rack. They come out looking practically new and it stops that musty smell that old vacuums sometimes get. Just check the manufacturer instructions first to be sure they can handle the heat and won’t melt.
Plastic Hairbrushes And Shower Tools
I was honestly skeptical about this one at first but it works incredibly well. You can take your plastic hairbrushes and combs and stick them in the utensil basket. Just make sure you pull out all the loose hair first so you do not clog your drain. I also throw in those plastic shower scrubbies and body brushes. The heat from the dishwasher sanitizes them and gets rid of bacteria that loves to grow in damp bathroom environments. It feels good knowing my grooming tools are actually clean when I put them on my hair.
Garden Trowels And Plastic Pots
After a weekend of planting flowers my garden tools are usually caked in mud. Instead of hosing them off outside, I knock off the big clumps of dirt and put my metal and plastic trowels in the dishwasher. This also works great for cleaning those plastic nursery pots if you want to reuse them. The high heat kills off any pests or plant diseases that might be lingering. Just keep anything with a wooden handle out of there because the water will make the wood swell and crack.
Shin Guards And Mouth Guards
If you have kids in sports, or play sports yourself, you know exactly how bad gear can smell after a few games. I started putting hard plastic shin guards and even mouth guards on the top rack of the dishwasher. It sanitizes them and gets rid of that awful locker room odor way better than a quick rinse ever could. I also throw in rubber pickleball balls and other solid sports gear. It is a total game changer for keeping the mudroom from smelling like a gym bag.
Plastic Toys And Bath Blocks
Kids' toys are basically magnets for germs and sticky messes. I gather up all the hard plastic building blocks, bath toys, and teething rings and load them up in my dishwasher. For the smaller pieces I use a mesh laundry bag so they do not fly around and melt on the heating element. It should give you peace of mind knowing that the things kids are putting in their mouths are sanitized. And it’s so much faster than wiping down every single block with a disinfecting wipe.
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Learning these little tricks has honestly given me back hours of my life. It is not just about saving time but about getting a deeper clean for things that usually get passed over. I look at my dishwasher differently now. It is not just for dishes anymore, but a tool that helps me manage the entire house. I hope you give a few of these a try and see just how much easier your cleaning routine can be.
Bliss Donahue-Power
