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 bottlesPaintbrushes (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!)
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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!
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I put toothbrushes, sponges, scrubbers, etc in the dishwasher. Does the glue on hairbows come out? I have a cousin that puts silk plants in the dishwasher to remove the dust! Thanks for a great list!
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Thanks for hosting Works for Me Wednesday. There are some great tips here. Thanks for your great tip about the dishwasher. I had been washing my sponges and dish scrubber in it, but you've given me great ideas for even more use.
Posted by: Patti @ Fill Me With Beauty | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 03:00 PM
What great ideas! I am suddenly excited to go and use my dishwasher!
Posted by: shemom | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Crocs. These plastic shoes are safe on the top rack.
Posted by: Katherine | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Honestly, I don't use my dishwasher that much. I try to hand wash everything. Crazy, I know!
Posted by: Traci | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 04:16 PM
I have something Brillante for you at my place!!!
Posted by: avtcoach | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 04:27 PM
I told my husband that you can clean baseball hats in the dishwasher. Do they hold their shape?
Posted by: susieshomemade | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 04:37 PM
Thanks Shannon for this Blog Carnival. I look forward to it each week!
Posted by: Leigh B. | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 04:54 PM
I Love the bleach idea too! Definitely don't forget the garbage can lids (especially my under the sink garbage lid).
I want to know if anyone EVER AT ALL has got a remedy to clean out a coffee carafe?
Posted by: Cathy | Mommy Motivation | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Sorry about the link I fixed it. I was just so excited I remembered something that others could use I messed up the link.
Posted by: Jackie | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 05:15 PM
great idea's ! thanks ") marina
Posted by: marina | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Wow, I never knew my dishwasher was so useful!
Posted by: Vicki Arnold | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Never thought to do that! GREAT tip! Got a house full of sickies right now...gonna put the toothbrushes through tonight!
Posted by: Sarah @ Short Stop | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 06:13 PM
OK: this is actually a "do not wash" story: a lady who put her very expensive and very collectable Radco Christmas ornaments in the dishwasher. (They were dusty from a year in the attic.) You guessed it: paint totally stripped off. No longer collectable, I guess.
Posted by: k&c's mom | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Some hammers rust.
Be careful about bleach--it can wreck the seal in your dishwasher. I stopped using liquid detergent because of this.
I've been meaning to read your blog because I saw the name on someone else's blog and I LOVED it! I found it again today on someone else's blog, and I headed right over. I was really excited when she started mentioning that you talk about frugality. That was the kicker for me.
Posted by: Brandy | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Oops! I accidentally posted twice -- first, just to my home page, then to my WFMW post. Sorry! First-timer.
As for the dishwasher, I'm a HUGE fan of diswashing all of my sponges and scrubbers (although I can't -- quite -- bring myself to put the toilet brushes in).
I was also told it's the only way to properly wash a baseball cap, too ... but I think it shrinks them.
Posted by: Betsy | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 08:04 PM
I use my dishwasher to wash the globe thingies from light fixtures. They sparkle like new!
Posted by: The (Almost) Amazing Mammarino | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Shhhh.... I washed my daughter's tennis shoes in there the other day! They had gotten moldy after a birthday party and even though I soaked them in bleach water and scrubbed them, the stuff along the edges wasn't coming off, so I tried the dishwasher. Didn't really work, but I figure it helped disinfect even more! :-O
Posted by: Melanie | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 10:05 PM
You won't believe this one, but I found a great recipe for cooking salmon in the dishwasher! I've tried it a couple of times and it is so moist and wonderful, you wouldn't believe it.
Posted by: lynn@queenofthecastlerecipes.com | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 10:47 PM
So there's this "Home Improvement" episode where Tim tries to cook fish in his dishwasher...
Posted by: Minnesotamom | Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Makes me wish to buy a dishwasher or disinfecting machine - especially for various instruments like screwdrivers:))
There are things like plush toys and slippers that I wash in the washing machine (but I suppose that dishwasher would work better for them)...
Posted by: Lina | Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 09:26 AM
My motto is, if it cannot be washed in the dishwasher or washing machine, it has no business being in my house.
I think you covered just about every thing. Many of those I put in the washer, like bows, baseball caps and every kind of children's shoes - including sandals. See above motto. I have even put my carmats in the washer.
Other dishwasher items:
-Pacifiers. Which you no longer need to wash.
-The knobs to my stove.
-all manner of toys
-lightswitch plates
-my TMJ nightguard
-medicine droppers
But the computer keyboard? That's nuts.
Posted by: missy @ it's almost naptime | Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11:50 PM
ok, so i'm excited to hear about the hairbow option.
do you put soap in for that one? if so, normal dishwasher powder? i have a few white bows and other bows that need a good washing...
Posted by: randel | Saturday, November 01, 2008 at 08:59 PM