21 Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean In The Dishwasher

Dishwashers are hot, wet and steamy...the perfect place to blitz germs and clean your everyday items!

Find out what you can deep clean right here...

1. Nail clippers, tweezer & scissors

Your personal grooming kit can harbour a whole host of germs and bacteria, not to mention dead skin cells - yuck! Pop your nail prep tools into the cutlery compartment and they'll be good as new.

2. Hairbrushes and combs

As long as your brushes are plastic and don't have boar bristles, you can simply remove any excess hair and pop them into where you usually put the cutlery. Remember to air dry before using again.

3. Your kids plastic toys

The kid's toys get dragged across the floor, in the garden and across all kinds of dirty floors where they pick up germs, bacteria, and other nasties. This is especially true for those mouldy bath toys!

Make sure you give any plastic toys a proper clean to avoid sickness. Just don't put any electrical or battery-powered toys in there.

4. Soap dishes & toothbrush holders

Get rid of soap scum from your toothbrush holders and soap dishes by putting them in for a quick wash on the dishwasher.

You clean anything from plastic to porcelain and ceramic accessories.

5. Shoes

Why stick your shoes in the washing machine and risk damaging them when you can clean dirty shoes in the dishwasher instead? Pop your welly boots, flip-flops and trainers on the top rack for a good soak.

6. The food waste bin

Cleaning the food waste bin is a mucky job but someone has to do it - and who better than the trusty dishwasher! Once a week, give it a deep clean in the dishwasher and it'll come out better than ever.

If you can fit them in, try washing your kitchen bid lid and your bathroom bin in there too.

7. Sponges

Sponges quickly pick up dirt and bacteria, but you don't need to throw them away after just one use. Pop them into the dishwasher to rid them off any bad stuff. Leave to air dry and there'll be good to go again.

8. Baseball caps

Unlike the washing machine, your hats won't lose their shape if you place them on the top rack of the dishwasher. For further instructions on how to clean sweat-stained hats, read our other article. 

9. Pet bowls

Pet bowls can quickly get grimy if they're not cleaned regularly. Leftover food, fur, and spit can make for a very messy bowl. Stick them in the dishwasher for super clean bowls.

Editor's Note: It has since been discovered by the NSF that dishwashers should not be relied upon to clean pet bowls as they harbour harmful bacteria than requires disinfection for removal.

10. Shelves in your fridge

With leaks, spills and whiffy foods, your fridge shelves and drawers can get quickly get dirty. Keep your fridge in tip-top condition by putting them into the dishwasher every fortnight. The jets should get rid of any stuck-on foods and stains, too.

11. Showerhead

Got a removable shower head? Unscrew it and place it in the dishwasher every three months to clean out any hard water build-up and grime.

12. Razors

Just because they've got some shaving foam residue and hairs between the blades doesn't mean your disposable razors are ready for the bin. Give them a deep clean by sticking them in the cutlery basket.

13. Mouthguards

If you play contact sports or grind your teeth at night, you might own a rubber mouthguard. You'll already know is important to wash it every day or risk bad bacteria re-entering your mouth. Why not pop it in with the dishes every night to save time cleaning it yourself?

14. Makeup brushes

Make-up artists and assistants will tell you how important it is to keep these brushes clean. They touch your face every day, and if you don't wash them regularly they will transfer germs and bacteria onto your face.

Place your foundation, blusher and eyeshadow brushes in the silverware basket on a short cycle to get rid of any blemish-inducing bacteria.

15. Furniture knobs

Unscrew the knobs from your cabinets and give them a quick wash. They'll be shiny and sparkling - just like new. Great tips for sprucing up second-hand knobs.

16. Potatoes

This one might not be for everyone, but if you are preparing a lot of potatoes (Christmas?) you can save time by popping them into the top rack of the dishwasher and running a short cycle without detergent. 

17. Gardening tools

Provided they are not made from wood, you should be able to clean your gardening tools in the dishwasher. This will help prevent cross-contamination in your garden.

18. Dustpan & brushes

Another household item that can get particularly grimy. Remove any hair from the brush to avoid clogging the drainage then pop both the pan and brush into the dishwasher for a deep clean.

19. Your toothbrushes

If you have excess toothpaste and hard water build up on the base of your toothbrush it's time to give it a clean in the dishwasher. Just remember this is one of those items that does NOT require detergent!

20. Jar for preserving

Clean those used jam jars before you use them for preserving. 

21. Car hubcaps

We all hate cleaning the car. If your hubcaps will fit in your dishwasher then there's no reason not to wash them in there. They'll get a good soak and will save you an hour or two in scrubbing!

As you can see, these appliances have a lot of uses. But how long do dishwashers last, and what should you do if your dishwasher stops drying or your pods aren't dissolving? Find out in our other articles! 

Thanks for reading! If you can think of any items that can be cleaned in the dishwasher, please leave a comment below.