Dishwashers… not just for dishes?

Get the Most Out of Your Dishwasher

We get it. Just like everyone else, you’re crazy busy. You’re constantly getting emails and phone calls and don’t have time to clean everything in the house. Lucky for you, we’re here to tell you that your dishwasher is underutilized. Use your dishwasher to clean the following household items and reach your full dishwasher potential!

Toys, Potatoes, and More

Preparation: Be sure to empty your dishwasher of all dishes before adding non-kitchen items. Also, use discretion when adding detergent to your cycle, depending on the item.

• 1) Toys: A fairly common alternative dish item, toys can be washed in a dishwasher with detergent if they are plastic—dolls and other soft toys are not recommended. But be careful! Absolutely no battery-powered items should be washed.
• 2) Baseball caps: Hats can get sweaty and greasy, but washing machines can bend them out of shape. Instead, toss them on the top rack of your dishwasher with some soap for an easy clean!
• 3) Rain boots: Rubber rain boots, paired with some baking soda, can come out looking squeaky clean after one wash.
• 4) Garden tools: As long as they have plastic, ceramic, or rubber handles, garden tools can get a much-needed bath if put in your dishwasher with detergent.
• 5) Flip-flops: After an entire summer’s use, flip-flops can get gunky, sticky and stinky. Hook them on a rack, add some detergent and have them smelling fresh in no time.
• 6) Fan blades and covers: Dusting and cleaning fans can be exhausting to clean. If your fan is plastic, you’re in luck! One cycle through your dishwasher will save you some cleaning time.
• 7) Kitchen sponges: Sponges are used to clean your dishes, so they should get a cleaning, too. Making sure to add detergent, place them on the top rack of your washer between scrubs.
• 8) Hubcaps: Scrubbing your hubcaps down by hand only does so much. Placing them on the bottom portion of your dishwasher with some detergent will cut through grease and give them a thorough wash like never before.
• 9) Toothbrushes: We use them to clean our mouths daily but rarely ever think to clean the toothbrushes themselves. Place your toothbrush in the silverware slot and run your dishwasher on a hot cycle without detergent to kill bacteria lingering on your brush.
• 10) Sports equipment: Pads, like shin guards and knee pads, can reek of sweat. However, one soapy run in your dishwasher can make the car ride home from soccer practice a lot more bearable.
• 11) Pet toys: Fido’s toys can also get grimy from all that chewing and slobbering. If they’re plastic or rubber, one run through the dishwasher with detergent should make your furry friend feel like he got a brand new bone.
• 12) Microwave plates: The base plate in your microwave gets a lot of use. Next time you load your dishwasher, put the microwave plate on the bottom rack.
• 13) Refrigerator shelves: Wiping down your refrigerator is a grueling and time consuming task. If your shelves are small enough to fit, consider putting them in the dishwasher to save yourself all that scrubbing.
• 14) Potatoes: Don’t waste your time cleaning potatoes individually—place them on the top rack of your dishwasher for a quick soap-free clean! You’ll still have to cook them after their cycle.
• 15) Cook salmon: We know this sounds crazy, but the Internet shows it has been done—there’s even a recipe for it: Wrap a fillet in aluminum foil, stick it on the top rack and run a soap-free cycle. Now you’re practically a five-star chef! Warning: You may have salmon to serve but your dishwasher will smell strongly of fish.

Even with these time-saving dishwasher hacks, there always seems to be more to clean around the house. Let Exceptional Cleaning take care of the rest, and have your home cleaned top to bottom. Visit us on the web @ www.atlantaexceptionalcleaning.com or call us at 678-887-4306.

Are there any other items that you use your dishwasher for? Let us know using the comment section!