Can you imagine life without a dishwasher? Probably not! Washing up in the sink is time-consuming and if you make mistakes, the dishes won’t get properly clean. Most of us use our dishwasher regularly to clean cups, cutlery, bowls and plates. But have you ever put your shoes in the dishwasher to get them clean again? Find out why you should do this and what other things you can easily clean in this miracle appliance here!
Unusual things you can clean in the dishwasher
A dishwasher is designed to clean things. To do this, water is heated, mixed with detergent and then sprayed under pressure onto the dirty items inside. Why not use it to clean other household items in addition to the usual suspects from the crockery drawer? You can even put lampshades, brushes and even your shoes in the dishwasher.
Note: The heating elements are located at the bottom of the dishwasher, where the temperature is highest. Delicate items should be placed higher up in the dishwasher.
Glass lampshades
They bring light into rooms – and it makes quite a difference whether they are clean or not. Wash the dirty lampshade in the top drawer of the dishwasher. The rooms will shine in new splendor.
Cleaning the shower head in the dishwasher
Shower heads calcify or become blocked after a short time if used regularly. You can simply dismantle them and clean them in the dishwasher – as hot as possible – together with pots, for example.
Cleaning shoes in the dishwasher
To remove unpleasant odors and dirt, you can easily clean fabric sneakers in the dishwasher. Remove coarse dirt, insoles and laces beforehand. Rubber or plastic flip-flops and rubber boots can also be cleaned in this way. Shoes or slippers made of leather or with an inner lining, on the other hand, still need to be cleaned by hand.
Hair accessories
Combs, hairbrushes, hair elastics and hair clips can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. To do this, first remove all hair so that the sieve of the dishwasher does not clog. You should also not clean any products made of real wood in the dishwasher. It is best to place the hair accessories in the cutlery basket.
Headgear and sports equipment
Hats and baseball caps develop unsightly sweat marks, especially in summer. Shin guards also get dirty quickly. However, headwear in particular quickly loses its shape in the washing machine, but they are in good hands in the dishwasher. However, make sure that there are no dishes in the dishwasher at the same time and replace the dishwasher tabs with a few drops of washing-up liquid.
Plastic toys
Children’s toys get dirty quickly. As little ones are constantly putting them in their mouths, they should always be clean. Small figures and other plastic toys can therefore be cleaned in the dishwasher basket.
Dog toys
Dogs can also become infected from their toys – especially if they are still young. However, you should never clean dog toys in the dishwasher together with normal dishes.
Sponges and dishwashing brushes
Kitchen sponges are almost always slightly damp and therefore the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. The situation is similar with dishwashing brushes. Simply wash them in the dishwasher once a week with the dishes and you can be sure of cleanliness and hygiene when washing up.
Kitchen utensils
There are so many small things in the kitchen and bathroom that are difficult to clean by hand. You can make household cleaning easier for yourself by cleaning the following small items in the dishwasher:
- Butter dishes
- Sugar bowls
- Salt and pepper shakers
- Soap dishes
- Soap dispenser
- Toothbrush holder
- Nailbrushes
- Make-up brushes made of plastic
Tip: If you want to clean small items in the dishwasher, you should place them in a net beforehand so that they do not fall through the racks.
Larger kitchen items
If you look around the kitchen with open eyes, you will certainly find other things that could do with a thorough clean. Kitchen grids, microwave plates, extractor hood grilles and fridge inserts can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Dirty potatoes
Not only objects, but also food, benefit from the dishwasher’s wash program. If you put dirty potatoes in the dishwasher before eating them, a quick rinse without detergent will remove all the dirt. However, the heat will cook the potatoes a little, so you should use them immediately afterwards.
Dishwasher: Indispensable – not just for dirty dishes
Did you know that the dishwasher can take so much of the work out of household cleaning? But before you get started, you should bear the following in mind: Not everything can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Sensitive items, certain pots and pans made of aluminum or copper as well as items made of certain materials, with special surfaces or coatings are better cleaned by hand. A look at the instructions for use can provide information here.
But with our list, you now know that you can also clean shoes in the dishwasher, as well as many other things that you previously had to laboriously clean by hand.
Sources: cleanipedia.com
