You can also wash insulated lunch bags in the dishwasher, on the top rack. Plastic pet or children's toys can be washed on the regular dish cycle.
The dishwasher can also be used to wash miscellaneous household items like glass light fixture covers, shower heads, or appliance parts, such as stove grates, burner covers, or your microwave tray. Also clean metal screen from the vent over the stove in the dishwasher.
By duckie-do from Cortez, CO
Below you can read previous posts and comments about this topic. The discussions on this page has been archived 1 time. Select a discussion and read the feedback here.
(Archived Mar 29, 2011)Cleaning Other Than Items in the Dishwasher
The kitchen sink stopper/strainer, scrub brush or sponge will clean very nicely in your dishwasher. Just place them in the top rack and wash with the usual dishes. Use a clothespin on the sponge and attach it to one of the prongs of the rack to keep it from bouncing around. The items will come out clean and sanitized.
By Laura from Elberta, AL
By craftyflamingo
12/01/2010
I put my Birkenstock (plastic ones, liners removed) and crocs in the dishwasher, no heat water and no heat dry.
By organica323
07/15/2010
I'm not so sure about ever washing an electronic item in a dishwasher. My dishwasher water is so hot, it would melt the keyboard for sure! I'd have to see this work for someone in person before I'd ever consider doing it. One more thing, I would never wash anything I put in my mouth to brush my teeth with in a dishwasher. It's just too risky for me. Germs are amuck!
By mommabruv
01/31/2010
I also wash the extractor fan covers from the kitchen and 4 bathrooms/toilets, the plastic cutlery drawer inserts, the fridge door inserts - shelves, egg racks etc, plastic/rubber dog toys, glass light shades, soap dishes from the bathrooms.
I also run an empty load once a week to use the dishwasher to wash itself, LOL! Hairbrushes go in the washing machines (in laundry bags to stop them snagging other things) same with dog leads and non-leather collars.
By grandma jo
01/31/2010
I used to put the lid to my tall kitchen trash can in the dishwasher. It was flat and fit perfect. I am thinking about buying a new one like it because my current one (roll top) is hard to clean. My sister-in-law was there one time as I pulled it out and was amazed.
By justhelpingout (Guest Post)
10/03/2008
It's a great way to sterilize toothbrushes. I was having an epidemic of strep throat in my house and it was quite expensive to keep buying new toothbrushes so I was told to sterilize them. I tried boiling water on the stove, but it made the bristles fall off the head so I had the idea that the dishwasher is a great sterilizer and it works. I often will do that just to clean them even though we have since gotten rid of the strep throat.
By BridgetOFlynn
10/03/2008
I use vinyl baby bibs and I wash the vinyl high chair pads and bibs in the dishwasher, I also wash my dish strainer, microwave parts and toys in there.
By cett
09/09/2008
When I had a dishwasher, I found it invaluable to wash my son's (then a toddler) plastic toys such as trucks, cups, lego things, etc. that he took into the garden and put God knows where! Just make sure there are no loose parts. If there are, just unscrew them and put them in the cutlery box so you don't lose them.
By Jess (Guest Post)
06/16/2006
I spilled a soda into my computer keyboard once. My husband, an IT specialist, told me unplug it from my computer, and wash it in the dishwasher. Believe it or not, this really works! My keyboard came out clean, and the keys don't stick, as the wash cycle got out all the sticky mess. Saved me a few bucks. One note, turn off the dry cycle, and let the keyboard dry out key down on a dry dishtowel. Once dry, plug back in!
By Journeyofalifetime
06/14/2006
I have used my dishwasher for my light covers (glass globes and others). Much simpler than doing it myself and I don't have to worry about dropping and breaking anything!
By Peg (Guest Post)
06/14/2006
I don't have a dishwasher, but I do know someone who uses hers to clean all the little baskets she has around the house. She says that it does a wonderful job of getting all the dust that gets in the little crannies.
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