Works For Me: What I Put In My Dishwasher

In my house, it's not just a dishwasher.  It's a high-tech disinfecting MACHINE.  And I know, that's probably not exactly what the manufacturer had in mind, but I happen to live in a large family where a good deal of disinfecting is required.  That water gets all steamy hot in there, and I just can't resist using it for non-dish things.  Here is some of what I regularly wash in there:

Toothbrushes (especially after a virus)
Kitchen scrub brush and sponges
Soccer shin guards
Baseball caps
Hair bows
Hair brushes (after pulling off all the gunky stuff)
Swim goggles
Any number of plastic toys (especially bath toys)
Soap dispenser
Reusable cleaning spray bottles
Paintbrushes (after the paint is washed off)  (Bad idea, my art-teacher friend E has written to tell me--oh well, live and learn)
Earrings (those that aren't too delicate to handle the heat)
Hammers and screwdrivers (those things just start looking nasty after a while)
A whole bunch of other things I can't remember right now.

In case you're wonder, I don't wash the gross stuff with our dishes, so I don't have to worry about finding hairbrush residue or smelly soccer sweat in my clean dishes (Yum!  Want to come over for dinner?)  Additionally, I frequently run it empty with a cup of bleach poured in the bottom, to kill whatever germs the super-hot water might have missed.

Do you have any creative uses for your dishwasher?  I'd love to hear your ideas.

(This probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway--proceed carefully.  Everyone's particular dishwasher is different, as are the items you might want to wash in there.  Don't ruin stuff!)

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Please remember that next Wednesday, November 5th, is a themed edition of WFMW.  It's the Toys Worth Buying Edition, in which we'll all share favorite and tested toys that you'd recommend to your friends.  Please share your favorite toy suggestions, and save us all from buying gifts that are going to be relegated to the garage or attic after two weeks!

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Leave your Works-For-Me Wednesday links below.  First timers, check out the guidelines here.  Please note that the links will close at 8 pm CST tonight, in order to keep away the spammers! And please, no political posts.

Was your link deleted?  Click here.

1. We are THAT family (The Room Fairy) 2. Blue Castle (paintint tips) 3. The Well-Rounded Woman (Only 352 Days Left!) 4. Land of Lovings - Baby on Board! 5. Amy @ Finer Things (Control and a Giveaway) 6. Lady Why (My Favorite Mom Vitamins!) 7. Homschooling and Frugal (Best homemade Laundry Soap) 8. Jack\'s Mommy (Extra Room on Bedside Tables) 9. A Simple Walk (clothing storage w/ minimal closet space) 10. The Diaper Diaries (calendar) 11. Audra Krell 12. Mother Hen (Eggspert Advice) 13. Life with Kaishon (Trick or Treating) 14. Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers (But I don\'t LIKE sweet potatoes!) 15. Jen @ JenuineJen (Giveaway Christmas Cards) 16. The Happy Housewife (camping) 17. sources of joy (cheap, hot date night) 18. What About Mom (Screen Doors and Sex) 19. Happy To Be At Home (holiday homeschooling) 20. Shane (true worship) 21. EveryChapter (Whatever you have dinner) 22. Amy @ A Day in the Life (Coupon Organization) 23. kitchendoor (love muffins) 24. Green Baby Guide (Best Dishwashing Method) 25. Rookie Mom 101 (Buga"whoo hoo"loo shoes) 26. GROCERY CART CHALLENGE (homemade laundry soap tutorial) 27. Andrea@Under Grace & Over Coffee (Grocery list made easy) 28. Franticallysimple (DIY face faint) 29. $5 Dinners - November Menu Plan 30. Walking Frugally (Multi-Talented Yogurt) 31. Megan (the timer) 32. Cooking During Stolen Moments (sticking with store brands) 33. Muses of Megret (nostalgic toys) 34. CannedLaughter(HankyPanky) 35. The Gluten-Free Homemaker (Popcorn for Dinner) 36. Raise Them Up (Frugal Camp Cot) 37. Many Little Blessings (Giving T-or-T\'ers Stuff From Your Pantry) 38. Buzzings of a Queen Bee! (Easy Vintage Artwork!) 39. Christa @ No End in Site (one for Moms) 40. Lisa @ Elbows (Chocolate Coated Prayer) 41. Smockity Frocks (Huggable Memories) 42. Amy@Experience Imagination (D\'oh-when you need to UNDO) 43. Kirsty@Momedy (Celebrating family accomplishments! ) 44. Queen mother blog (No Knead Bread) 45. Luanne @iwantmk (Easy Quiche & More!) 46. flexible dreams (duckpin bowling) 47. My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving (more free coffee) 48. The Bargain Shopper Lady (Online Bargain Shopping Tips For This Holiday Season!) 49. Genny at MyCup2Yours (Bedtime Prayers) 50. Amy@Jonathan\'s Journey (EZ Jack-O\'Lantern Lighting) 51. Milehimama (Discount Costumes Cheap Gifts!) 52. Stretch Mark Mama (Reverse Trick-Or-Treating) 53. Making Money Keeping Money(Getting Manufacturers to Email you Coupons) 54. Birth In Joy (Energy for Labor) 55. Dodge & Weave (time change) 56. Tamara (Kids Lunch Ideas) 57. MemeGRL (HOW many days to Christmas?) 58. Staci at Writing and Living (Free online seminary lectures) 59. e-Mom @ Chrysalis (Pumpkins Three Ways 60. NerdMom(Making Ribbon Covered Clips) 61. Joanna @ OneKrustyMama (Spinning and Losing Weight) 62. Wildwood Mama (Treetopper for Nightlight) 63. The Faery Inn (Cheapest Window Cleaner) 64. ilovemy5kids (Our Fall Village - Making Memories) 65. Duckabush Blog (Music Online) 66. Carolina Mama (No Shipping Shopping) 67. Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt (Sneaking superfoods into toddler meals) 68. Caitlin (Audio Bible) 69. Homeschool Classroom (Sharing Books You Love With Kids) 70. Lisa(Building an affair proof marriage) 71. Organizing Mommy 72. IfOnlyIHadSuperPowers (super calendars) 73. The Frugal Mom Blog(CellFire Coupons for your Cell Phone or Store Card) 74. Dawn@PSHelovesyou(new feature on dig pix,very cool!) 75. Extreme House Wifeing (Selling Books Continued) 76. Want to trade plant seed \'s 77. Christmas at our house 78. Having Fun at Home (pickle jar lantern tutorial) 79. Heidi @ Blue Eyed Blessings (systematic grocery list) 80. Sasha (wiping tender noses) 81. Mrs Organic (halloween craft edible tombstones) 82. Emily @ Long On Staying 83. Tricia (Halloween Tips or Treats) 84. Kristin( Home Decor Links:)) 85. Organising Queen (finding the PERFECT handbag) 86. mom2my9 (praying to keep our little boy) 87. Sandy Toes(Pillows!!!!) 88. Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates (Thrift Store Shopping) 89. Feeling Frugal (Keep Food Fresh Longer) 90. momsfrugal (in a pinch grocery list) 91. Smellyann (portraits) 92. Angela-weightloss 93. "Cents"able Momma (Check Gas Prices Online) 94. Reading Rosie (Simple Skin Care) 95. Laane (sorting jewelry) 96. Kim (wonderful book) 97. Kris- (Great spontaneous gift idea) 98. BusyMom (Board Games) 99. Overflowing Grace (Wearing "Recycled" Clothes) 100. Tara @ Feels like home (Rework your Clorox mop) 101. Kim@My Journey ~ Spice Organization 102. Gina (Filing School Paper/Art) 103. Donielle @ RaisingPeanuts (Feeding Toddlers) 104. Linda (save $ w promo codes) 105. Llama Momma (surviving Chuck E. Cheese) 106. Tree Climbing Mom (car emergency kit) 107. cockyhen 108. minimalistmommy (frugal birthday gift idea) 109. Chel (Making Halloweenies) 110. Jennifer (Towel Cakes - Another Gift Idea) 111. Andrea (Eliminating Food Odors from My House) 112. JessieLeigh (Target Blanket Sleepers) 113. LooneyJen (5 Toddler Games We Love) 114. Amy @ MomsToolbox (banish muffin top) 115. Kim - A Delicious Library 116. Debbie J (Laundry in My Home) 117. warillever (spooky kids\' craft) 118. Julie (mini student planner) 119. Vickie@PursuingSimplicity(Great Photo Idea) 120. Sherry@LampUntoMyFeet (Setting up safe kids email) 121. Camian Academy (Swiffer Diaper) 122. Fairion 123. Miss Mommy (My Reusable Bags) 124. Bailey\'s Leaf (Foamer Soap Refills) 125. A Crafty Mom (Changing Diapers) 126. A Frugal Housewife (baby-proof pictures) 127. Jolanthe (Grocery List by Aisle/Category) 128. Counting Sprinkles (Shortcuts in housework) 129. SuburbSanity(marriage and mid-life saver) 130. heidi@Sacred&Profane (it\'s kinda personal!) 131. Kay (Vocabulary Words) 132. Karen@Surviving Motherhood (Recipe for Amazing Whites!) 133. Kathy~Bona Vita (laundry) 134. Lori (eyeshadow that stays!) 135. Sarah *Amazing Pumpkin Bread* 136. KLee (opening presents games) 137. Sandra (less holiday stress) 138. exhale. return to center. (daycare) 139. Stephanie (My Miracle Moisturizer:Castor Oil) 140. discursively happy (removing crayon marks) 141. Lorrie (No more trah bill!) 142. Lynn (oven risotto) 143. The Apron Queen (Roasting PUMPKIN Seeds!) 144. Lorrie (No more trash bill!)

145. Leaving Excess (Recylcing Scratch Paper) 146. Amy (quick-n-easy breakfast ideas) 147. Kristine (reusing bread & newspaper bags) 148. Emily @ Little Home (No-Peel Apple Cake) 149. Heather @ Stretching Our Paychecks 150. Maria (Giveaway) 151. Maria (FREE Virtual Books) 152. Gretchen and Heidi (Netflix stuff) 153. Deanna (Framing Memories) 154. Phoebe @ Cents to Get Debt Free (Bloated Much?) 155. Stop the Ride! (detangler) 156. Abbi @ Proverbs 31 Living (never run out of anything) 157. mama2tlc (potty help please!) 158. Nichole @ A Call to Higher Places (Green Living Newsletter) 159. TheHappyGardener (Clean Floors) 160. Amy (LOSE WEIGHT) 161. Unsocialized Homeschool Mom (More Blog Template Tips) 162. Robyn@3GirlsMom (Hotel Curtains) 163. April(snack coupon booklets) 164. Cindy (Teaching kids about Money) 165. Jess (WFMW Works for me) 166. Sonshine(potlucks) 167. Thrifty Jinxy (Reducing Leftovers) 168. Ann Kroeker (nifty-thrifty iPod case) 169. ET @ Titus2:3-5 (storing clothes) 170. Penny Raine Big Book Package giveaway 171. Cyndi (adoption related) 172. Photoqueen (Starting a Toy Collection) 173. MamaHen(WD-40) 174. Crystal (apple tip and recipe) 175. Maren - dishpan storage 176. Jennifer(Childrens books and activities) 177. Alison @ Wholesome Goodness (Making Holiday Meals Seasonal and Local) 178. Pink Stinx (Laundry for Eight!) 179. Miche (young kid toys) 180. Catherine at Frugal Homemaker Plus (Inexpensive Books) 181. GrowingGreatKids: Storybook Friends 182. Kirstin: Costco online photo center 183. Mama Duck (baby shower gift) 184. Wild Squirrel (Peeling Bananas) 185. Will Fultz (The President & Selling) 186. Michelle@SavingSomeGreen (Bathroom Quick Clean) 187. The Frugal Mom Blog(HP Photosmart Express Station) 188. The Glamorous Life Association (Huck Finn!) 189. Kim (getting kids to swallow pills) 190. Tami (Chore Chart for 6 kids) 191. Kara (Dogs Electric Fence) 192. Carole (how to clean a cast iron skillet) 193. Dear Abbi (Encouraging Kindness-Sweets for the Sweet) 194. Michelle (baby food) 195. Cherilyn (timing my chores) 196. amyB - AWESOME Mascara! 197. southernseven(filling out online forms) 198. Katie (fall cleaning) 199. Christina Z (The Best Store) 200. Alexandra(Make Your Own Vanilla Sugar) 201. Free 2 Be Frugal (Gettin\' paid to BYOB) 202. Linda@RestyledHome (easy facelifts) 203. Kara (surviving with kids in the car) 204. Polly (Soften that Brown Sugar - FAST) 205. Katie (easy to mash bananas for bread) 206. The Messy Mom (spruce up an old photo album) 207. Amanda (softer hair) 208. Lindsay @ Passionate Homemaking (homemade Christmas gifts) 209. What\'s Cooking (cleaning my glass top stove) 210. Hadias (Laundry) 211. The Things We Do (personalized Christmas cards) 212. Sheila ~ To Love, Honor and Vacuum (podcasts!) 213. What\'s Cooking (menu planning) 214. Melinda @ Shore\'s End 215. Hesses Madhouse (Family (Father\'s) Interviews 216. Amy Andrews (BPA-free bottles) 217. Steph @ Problem Solvin Mom (toddler haircuts) 218. Superchikk (Keeping Store Discounts Handy) 219. Territory Mom 220. CcsMomma 221. 5tidbits 222. mzzterry (KeepItSimpleSisters) (kiss) 223. Amy@GrowingLikeTrees: Homemade cold remedies a giveaway 224. Erica ($1 section at Target) 225. Angela @ Diapers & Stilettos (Quick Bathroom Cleaning) 226. Ginger 227. Anna (Serger Scraps) 228. Shannon @ Skizzle\'s Corner (use for a plastic place mat) 229. Tiffany (Works for me Wednesday - Digital Scrapbooking Trick or Treat) 230. Wani (kids books w/ values) 231. Elena@ Liberty DVD - great for high school students 232. Herb of Grace (Infant Massage) 233. NerdFamily Food (Sticky Cheese) 234. Starbucks Mama ($2 Starbucks) 235. Erin (Cleaning Supplies) 236. Jen (awesome autumn) 237. Frugal Carol - Getting Free Stuff and a Giveaway 238. Amber @ BGH (Pseudo Trick Or Treat) 239. Bitty (cream of portobello soup) 240. petersonclan (Teacher Planner and School Organization) 241. Carrie - Mom on the Go (Kid\'s Morning Checklist) 242. TexasTanya (Decadent Hot Cocoa) 243. Saving Money Ideas 244. Col @ gigablonde (Making Peace with Meditation- when thoughts interrupt) 245. Annie (Killing Roaches) 246. Ginger @ heresmycuplord (Oral B Hummingbird) 247. Crayl,( giveaways)) 248. Jennifer (using up pumpkins) 249. Sally 250. Shannon@simplenaturalnourishing (making time 4 toddler) 251. Melissa (online radio programs) 252. Christine (this costume kicks your costume\'s butt!) 253. His Girl (Organizing Saves Money) 254. Totallyscrappy (backscratcher) 255. EmilyV @ Random Ramblings (cloth diapers) 256. Chief Family Officer (cheap nursing pad alternatives) 257. Kelly @ Love Well (what to do with too much Halloween candy) 258. jodi @ bpr (success for today) 259. Frances @ LovingandServing (Washing Baggies) 260. Patti @ Fill Me With Beauty 261. Just around the corner--gearing up for Christmas 262. Mommy Tips (SheMom) 263. The Simple Life of the Boreings (Draft Stop) 264. Mamabug (Fits, Fussin\' and Fightin\') 265. Elisa (free Christmas gifts ideas) 266. sandwiched (TiVo!) 267. Tafy Sills (Cheap Halloween costumes) 268. Traci (Candy Witch) 269. Judy (little containers for Legos) 270. Leigh (3M Painter\'s Tape) 271. Messy Jessy MN 272. Sarah (Nausea Relief) 273. Jackie (giving baby eye drops) 274. Jenna (Family Separation Tips) 275. Life:Frugal and Simple (Easy Cookies Video!) 276. Vicki Arnold (humor) 277. Jacquelyn@Because I Said So! (getting teens to clean a contest!) 278. Rose (Google Calendar) 279. Jen Zug (single serving ice cream) 280. Beth (Quick Dinner Recipe) 281. Rachel (Repairing before replacing!) 282. Queen of the Click (Quick ideas) 283. Amyswandering (Holiday Scented Laundry) 284. Sarah (planning menus & create a pantry) 285. Betsy (Cheap eats!) 286. Grateful for Grace (cutting down on gift insanity) 287. Julie Stiles Mills (home traction and inversion table) 288. Little Bitty Life (table manners)

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Links are now closed.  Please join us next week!