Things you can wash in a dishwasher - other than dishes

Thought your dishwasher was just for cleaning your dishes? Think again!

Check out the things it can clean.

Plastic toys – Put the toys on the top shelf for a quick wash, putting small toys such as lego in a mesh bag. This is great especially after the kids have been sick to get rid of germs.

Cleaning cloths and brushes – Clean away the bacteria from your dustpan, mop heads and cleaning cloths by placing them on the top rack for a refresh.

Tools – Put gardening tools or home tools in the wash to clean them up – remember to dry them afterwards though so they don’t go rusty.

Plastic shoes – Fake crocs, sandals and thongs can be cleaned up on the top shelf.

Car mats – Bang the car mat to remove the loose dirt, then lay on the top shelf

Vacuum – Clean vacuum filters (bottom shelf) and attachments (on top shelf). Remember to leave to dry before placing filter back in the vacuum.

Vents – Dusty air vents (not painted ones) and rangehood grates are cleaned easily

Hairbrushes – Plastic combs and brushes, especially great to kill head lice

Showerheads – Taps and showerheads, leaves them sparkilng and mould free

What have you cleaned in your dishwasher other than dishes? Please share in the comments below.

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38 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 31 Aug 2021
    11:27 am
Must admit ive only ever washed dishes in mine

- - ella12 said
  - 07 Sep 2016
    2:09 pm
I never would have thought of these, cheers.

- - pakeko said
  - 26 Apr 2016
    9:34 pm
Lol great ideas not sure I would do them but great tips

- - mom81879 said
  - 24 Apr 2016
    5:36 pm
I don’t have a dishwasher so I can’t use it for any of these. Not sure I would be comfortable washing my dishes, things I eat off and use to eat, after washing a lot of these items tho. Big yucky!

- - rovermum said
  - 07 Mar 2016
    2:57 pm
What great tips. I’ve never cleaned anything other than the normal dishes. What a great idea with some of these items.

- - tessie said
  - 06 Mar 2016
    5:25 pm
I’ve washed my dogs bowls in the dishwasher before. They are stainless steel and they come out so much better than me doing them by hand. I’ve also put our hair brushes through

- - Casey said
  - 03 Mar 2016
    10:40 am
My husband puts his hats – baseball caps and that sort of thing that he wears to work. They don’t come out misshaped or anything and it works great.

- - mom134803 said
  - 03 Mar 2016
    3:49 am
I have a dishwasher but in the 7 years I live in this house I never used it once !! But great idea’s. Maybe I should start using it.

- - mom101628 said
  - 02 Mar 2016
    9:04 pm
I clean the range hood filters and put the vitreous enamel racks from my gas cook top in too – simply cleaned in no time.

- - june said
  - 02 Mar 2016
    8:25 pm
I always clean my filters from my rangehood. Cleaner and completely grease free.

- - mom71495 said
  - 02 Mar 2016
    8:03 pm
What great ideas. I’ve seen my dishwasher in a new light.

- - mom61924 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    11:33 pm
We do this a lot especially when the kids are sick

- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    10:31 pm
Wow! I would never have thought of putting most of these things in a dish washer. I don’t even HAVE a dishwasher, that might be a good start haha

- - mom101628 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    10:11 pm
I have cleaned the vitreous enamel racks on my BBQ as well as all my hubby’s hydroponic garden attachments and plastic catches, etc.

- - mom160421 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    8:16 pm
I would not put a lot of these items eg shoes in the dishwasher.