"Spring is on the way and time to clean a few things around the house"
I just love helpful hints and I ran across this article the other day. It's been something I've been doing for years. For those of you who may worry about the dishwasher being unsanitary after using it for other items, keep in mind the dish washing detergent has bleach in it, so be careful with colorfast items and don't put anything silver in there, it will turn black. I totally ruined a set of silverware.
Sure, your dishwasher makes quick work of dirty plates and cups. But
lots of other stuff will get squeaky-clean in there, too. "Dishwashers
are real time-savers for cleaning many household and personal items."
I have been putting so many items in my dishwasher for years. In fact, I have put my kids sneakers in there on occasion.
1. Glass Globes from Light Fixtures
It's amazing how much
brighter a room will look after this cleaning task is checked off your
to-do list. "Run these through on the top shelf and make sure there's
space between them because the glass is more fragile than what's used
for drinking glasses. Use the delicate, china or crystal
cycle if available, and skip the heated dry option. And to be safe,
avoid washing antique or hand-painted globes or those with gold-leaf
trim in the dishwasher.
2. Shower Heads and Faucet Handles
If your shower head is spraying sporadically from clogged holes or your
faucet handles aren't as shiny as they used to be, place these on the
top rack and run the pots and pans cycle. It's fine to run cookware
through at the same time, so you're not wasting a wash for these few
items.
3. Plastic Hair Brushes, Combs, Clips and Barrettes
These personal care items get coated with hair products
, but clean up well in the dishwasher, says Trotter. Remove all strands of hair, then corral everything in a
mesh lingerie bag or dishwasher basket
on the top rack. Run a normal cycle. One note: Don't try this trick
with wood-handled or natural bristle brushes because the water and heat
can damage them.
4. Baseball Hats and Visors
"The dishwasher is a fantastic way to make sure hats keep their
shapes."
Put hats on the top rack, head opening down, on a separate wash cycle
from dishes because you can't use dishwasher detergent (many contain
bleaching agents). Instead, fill the detergent cup with borax, found in
the supermarket laundry aisle. Run a regular cycle without the heated
dry option, then place hat over a glass or jar to dry. Reshape brim
while damp.
5. Plastic Toys
Small plastic items such as baby toys, teethers and action figures can
get funky pretty fast. Toss them in a mesh bag or dishwasher basket and
place on the top rack. "Wash these on a normal cycle along with your
other dishes"
6. Pet Bowls and Toys
It's generally fine to
load these with other dishes. "Wash them regularly to prevent the
growth of bacteria that can make both you and your pet sick." "But
it's prudent to run a separate load or use the sanitize cycle if you
have a baby or a familymember with a suppressed immune system." Most
dishwasher-safe toys are labeled accordingly on the package or
manufacturer's website. However, if you're not sure whether the material
will hold up in the dishwasher, just to be safe, you can also soak toys
in 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, and rinse well. Rope toys and
rawhide chews can't be cleaned; toss when icky.
7. Kitchen Dish Sponges and Brushes
Load these up at the same time you do the regular dishes. The top rack is usually the best place so you can stand them up
or wedge between other items. Run through on a normal cycle.
8. Kitchen Appliance Parts
Once a week, load all of these into the dishwasher to make the whole
kitchen seem shinier: chrome drip pans, enamel-coated gas grates and
burner caps, fridge water dispenser grate, sink plugs, microwave tray
and range hood grease filters. Use the normal washing cycle. I even put my refrigerator racks in the dishwasher.
9. Butter Dishes, Sugar Bowls, Spoon Rests, and Salt and Pepper Shakers
"We handle all of these things every day, so they collect lots of
grease and grime, which you may not even notice," says Trotter.
Periodically empty sugar, spice and condiments and wash these containers
along with your regular loads. Once they are completely dry, you can
refill them with the contents you set aside before washing.
10. Personal Care Items
Toothbrushes, toothbrush holders, goopy soap dishes, nail brushes,
plastic makeup brushes and bathtub drain plugs all benefit from an
occasional run through the dishwasher. Place on the top rack with
smaller items tucked in a dishwasher basket, and wash on a normal cycle
with your other dishes. Lets not forget the rubber bath tub mat. It comes out beautifully.
Ok, no more excuses to not wash all those items around your house.
Put them in the dishwasher.
I'm linking this great info
Saturday Night Special
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