Your dishwasher isn’t just for washing dishes! There are many other apartment items that can enjoy a cleaning alongside your plates. Make it easier on yourself, and add them in your dishwasher the next time you are doing a load. They will come out of the dishwasher sanitized as well as wonderfully clean.
Vacuum Attachments These neglected accessories can become dusty. Bring new life to them. Place them on the top rack – and if you have a temperature setting turn it down. If your vacuum attachments are like mine, they have rubber gaskets and stuff in them that don’t like high heat.
Vent Grates You can put a variety of vents into the dishwasher. Air duct grates, unscrew those and toss them in, the metal grates in the range hood are also easily cleaned with the pots and pans cycle. You can even remove the air vents in your car (if your car has removable vents) and stick them onto the top rack. No more grungy grates! Microwave fan grills are probably one of the greasiest spots in your home. Remove the microwave fan grills, and wash them in the dishwasher. It’s that easy.
Trash Can Lid The trash can lids often become grubby. At least weekly, assuming your lid fits into your dishwasher, wash your lid with hot water. Your trash can will thank you.
Globes from Light Fixtures With your spring cleaning don’t forget your light fixtures. Unscrew them from your lights and put them in the dishwasher. The lights will be clean and brighter!
Plastic Toys Especially if your apartment has had a bout of illness, keep your loved ones from reinfecting themselves by washing the things that your loved ones came into contact with while they were sick. Stick their plastic toys into the washer for a quick wash. If they are small parts, like Lego pieces, consider putting them into a mesh bag on the top rack before washing.
Plastic Hair Brushes Your hair brushes (not natural bristle ones or ones with wood) will benefit from a wash. We stick ours upright in the silverware caddy.
Flip Flops and other shoes Living in a warm climate almost all of the shoes at our apartment are plastic/rubber flip flops, croc-knock-offs or sandals. We regularly wash our shoes in the top rack of our dishwasher – even the occasional sneaker has benefited from a quick wash. Place plastic flip-flops on the top rack of the dishwasher for a cleaning, but avoid washing Crocs or sandals with leather straps.
Sports Equipment Does your kiddo’s sports bag smell a bit like dirty feet? Place sports gear like shin guards, sparring equipment and helmets on the top rack of your dishwasher. The hot water will disinfect your gear. We suggest not using dish detergent, but rather use a single drop of dish soap and a tablespoon of baking soda. This will get rid of the sweaty grime without harming your gear.
Car Floor Mats Just Genius! Seriously. Bang the gunk off of your car mats and then lay them on the top rack of your dishwasher. It’s a pressure wash that requires no elbow action on your part! You will love the finished product!
Car Hub Caps A car detailer told us this was the secret to sparkly hubcaps. Remove the caps and stick them into the wash with a hot water cycle. You can use a streak free additive if your hubcaps have a glossy finish. They will come out looking like new!
Dust Pan and Broom If your dust pan is always collecting bits of trash and with all the fibers it is the perfect dark place for bacteria to breed. Clean your dustpan and dust broom in the dishwasher. Put them on the top rack – the fibers don’t like heat, so adjust the temperature, turn it down.
Mop and swifter heads If your mop has removable heads, stick it into the dishwasher for a quick cycle. You can put them on the top shelf. The agitator is great at bringing new life to old cleaning tools.
Dish sponges and scrubbers After you are finished hand-washing your pots and pans or other non-dishwasher safe dishes, stick the dish scrubby into your dishwasher on the top rack. The hot water and soap will kill off any bacteria left behind. Your scrubby will smell fresh a lot longer with this hack.
Scrub Brush Did you finish scrubbing grout? The tub? Throw your scrub brush into the dishwasher. This will prevent mold from growing in your brush and limit the soap build up in the brushes.
Toothbrushes and the Tooth Brush Holder Your toothbrushes should be regularly cleaned. You can do that by storing them upside down in Listerine or the equivalent for an hour or so – OR stick them into the washer. We just put ours in the silverware caddy. You can also wash your toothbrush holder at the same time.
Sink Stopper Ewww! When you run the dishwasher, simply toss in the stoppers. Trust us; you want to wash them.
Keys Toss your basic metal keys in the dishwasher for a cleaning that also leaves them sanitized. And it’s safe to wash them as often as you like.
Contact case Throw your contact container in the dishwasher once a month to keep it nice and clean.
Facial Brush If you use a facial brush with a removable brush, you can clean it monthly in your dishwasher.
Makeup Brushes Place your makeup brushes in the silverware holder once a month for a thorough cleaning and sanitizing. Allow them to dry fully before using them.
Hairbrushes and combs: Remove hair and add them to your dishwasher, which removes buildup and bacteria.
Eyebrow Brush Give it a quick cleaning and de-clumping of makeup, and add it to the silverware holder of the dishwasher once a month.
Nail Clippers A smart way to sanitize and clean your clippers. Place them in the silverware holder and dry it after washing to prevent rusting.
Tweezers Tweezers are also safe to clean in your dishwasher.
Plastic Child Toys If you have a little one, you should know that plastic toys are safe to wash on the top rack of your dishwasher. It will leave them free of germs and grime.
Duster Have a fabric removable duster head? Tossing in the dishwasher is safe. And this way, it doesn’t get lost in the washing machine.
Dog Toys Toss your pup’s plastic chew toys on the top rack of your dishwasher to clean off all that slobber.
Razor Give your razor a deep cleaning, and add it to the silverware tray of your dishwasher.
Hair Ties Your hair ties will be fresh and free of buildup, ready to hold your hair with style.
Removable cup holders: Your cup holders in your car? If they’re removable, they are safe to wash in the dishwasher.
Mop Covers Mop covers can also get a quick cleaning in the dishwasher, cleaning without tons of twisting and tumbling in the washing machine, which cuts its lifespan.
Sponges Make your sponge’s last longer and toss them in the dishwasher for a sanitizing clean.
Refrigerator Shelves The shelves of your fridge are also dishwasher safe. If they fit, add them to your load.
Range Knobs Remove the knobs from your range and give them a deep cleaning in the dishwasher.
Soap dishes Soap dishes in the bathroom or kitchen are also safe to wash in the dishwasher. If they are plastic, they should be kept on the top rack.
Toothbrushes and Toothbrush Holders Your toothbrush ( not electric) is safe to add to your next load of dishes. And ceramic or plastic holders can be washed on the top rack.
Baseball Caps Keep your baseball hats clean. Place them on the top rack of your dishwasher. They won’t get bent like in the washing machine. Air-dry, and your cap is ready to wear.
Desk Organizers Your metal desk organizers can also get added to your next load of dishes. Place them on the top rack and run your dishwasher.