If you’ve been looking for ways to save time on your chores, look no further than your dishwasher. This handy appliance is more versatile than you think. Not only does it take on dirty dishes and cutlery like a pro, it can also clean and sanitize some of the most unexpected items—items that would normally take a good bit of elbow grease and a huge chunk of time from you to get clean. Just grab a Dishwasher Detergent Pod, pop it into the dishwasher on a normal cycle, and walk away. Here are some surprising things you can clean in the dishwasher:
HAIR ACCESSORIES
Combs, brushes, and even plastic hair clips are fair game! Just be sure to remove any hair first to avoid clogging the dishwasher.
MAKEUP BRUSHES
Place them face up in the silverware holder to get them a deep clean!
PLASTIC LIGHT SWITCH PLATES
You use your light switch every day, but odds are you don’t think about washing your light switch plate! Removing it from the wall and running it through the dishwasher will give a more thorough clean.
DOOR AND APPLIANCE KNOBS
From your classic doorknob to the range knobs on your stove—just pop them off and put them in your dishwasher!
PLASTIC TOYS
Running them through the dishwasher will get into those nooks and crannies!
SPORTS GEAR
Mouth guards of course, but also shin guards and knee pads–place them in the top rack and get rid of that locker room smell.
SWEDISH DISH CLOTHS
The Swedish Dish Cloth is a reusable alternative to a paper towel and our kitchen MVP. It’s easy to wash in the laundry or the dishwasher!
VEGETABLE BRUSHES
Use them to scrub, and then let the dishwasher scrub them!
BASEBALL CAPS
Baseball caps are a classic accessory that are easy to add to any outfit—but not so easy to figure out how to clean! Check out our foolproof guide for How To Wash A Baseball Cap (Spoiler alert: the dishwasher is our favorite method).
TOOTHBRUSH HOLDERS AND SOAP DISHES
If they’re plastic, wash them on the top rack!
REFRIGERATOR SHELVES AND DRAWERS
Remove them from your fridge and allow them to sit until room temperature to prevent cracking from temperature changes. Then run them through the dishwasher!
VENT COVERS
Air vent covers full of dust? Wipe them with a Swedish Dish Cloth to remove dust buildup, then pop them in the dishwasher for a good scrub!
WINDOW SCREENS
Keep fresh air fresh by cleaning your window screens in the dishwasher!
LUNCH BOXES
Yep, you can put lunch boxes and insulated lunch bags on the top rack of your dishwasher. Be sure your'e using a cold water wash with a gentle rinse cycle. Then, simply air dry!
POTATOES
Yes you read that right! According to Real Simple magazine, you can skip scrubbing potatoes by hand by washing in the dishwasher instead. Run on a normal cycle without detergent.
So now what will you do with all that time you’ve saved? Tackle the mess in the laundry room? Get control of the junk drawer in the kitchen? Or maybe you should tackle a glass of wine while getting control of the couch in the living room (don't worry about spills—we have a guide for that too!)