13 Surprising Things You Can Wash In The Dishwasher

Your dishwasher just doesn't have to be for dishes. Check out this list of 13 surprising things you can wash in the dishwasher.

Years ago, before my son was born I was a teacher in a pre-school. One of my jobs every day was to load all the toys that had been played with that day in a dishwasher and clean them.

Until I worked there I never dreamed of putting anything but dishes in a dishwasher. After all, it is called a dishwasher not a toy washer.

But, since then I have found that there are so many things you can clean in your dishwasher.

Stop hand washing things and check out this awesome list of things you can clean in the dishwasher.

Things You Can Wash In The Dishwasher

The average dishwasher gets the temperature of the water around 130-175 degrees. This is perfect for killing off germs and cleaning things. Above 140 degrees kills off most viruses and bacteria.

To clean the items below in the dishwasher you just need some dishwashing detergent.

Dog Bowls

My dog's bowls seem to get food and grime stuck on them. I just toss them in the dishwasher to get them clean and shiny again.

Not only do they come out shining but any germs or bacteria will be killed off too.

Sponges and Scrubbers

You can put any sponges or scrubbers through the dishwasher on the top shelf to get them clean and disinfected.

I put the scrub brush and scrubber that I use to wash dishes through the dishwasher about every other week.

Stove Hood Filter

Usually, I prefer to clean my stove hood in the sink, but when I am in a hurry I put it in the dishwasher.

Just put it in your dishwasher on the hottest setting to get it clean.

Toys

As I mentioned above the dishwasher can be a great way to get lots of toys cleaned and disinfected easily.

If you have small toys I recommend placing them in a laundry bag so they don't fall to the bottom of the dishwasher and melt.

Combs & Brushes

You can clean combs or plastic hair brushes easily on the top rack of the dishwasher.

I would recommend the top shelf only and make sure they can take the heat.

Grill Rack

If your outdoor grill rack is coated in baked-on gunk just toss it in the dishwasher. I recommend using the extra scrubbing cycle if you have one.

Cup Holders

My car cup holders are often sticky from things that spilled in them. If you can remove your cup holders just put them in the dishwasher to get them clean again.

Fridge Drawers

Ever open the fridge drawer to find a mess? Just put the fridge drawer in the dishwasher to get it cleaned again.

Outlet Covers & Vents

Our bathroom fan cover gets so dusty and dirty. I think hairspray must stick to it and then attract all the dust in the house to that fan cover. It is so gross! You can get it perfectly clean again by washing it in the top load of your dishwasher.

Canning Jars

You can use the dishwasher to sterilize your glass canning jars before you use them.

Stove Grates

I must be a very messy cook because my stove grates are constantly covered with food.

About every week I just pop them in the dishwasher with some dishes to get them clean again.

Bathroom Accessories

The dishwasher is a great way to remove germs and grime from your toothbrush holders, soap trays and more.

I would recommend the top shelf only and make sure they can take the heat.

Small Window Screens

If you can fit in the window screens they will clean up really well in the dishwasher. Skip the soap and just run them on a regular cycle.

I recommend using the top rack only for most of these things, and of course, use some common sense.

Anything that looks like it would have problems with the intense heat of the dishwasher skip putting in there.

Of course, some things you will want to run in a load by themselves too. As much as I love my dogs, I can't bring myself to wash the dog bowls at the same time as my food bowls.

Want some other easy cleaning tips? Check these out:

• 9 Things To Get Rid Of Today
• How To Clean A Bathroom Fan
• Germy Kitchen Items You Need To Be Cleaning