If you are fortunate to have a dishwasher in your apartment, then you will be eager to know you can wash more than just your dirty dishes and glasses. You should utilize your dishwasher to clean everything from sneakers to children’s toys. Read up on what is dishwasher safe and let everything you own sparkle.
Sandals, Flip Flops, Tennis Shoes, Footwear
While this may seem strange, you can totally clean shoes in a dishwasher. Cleaning shoes with your dishes is disgusting, however cleaning shoes separately in your dishwasher is sanitary. Before putting a pair of shoes in the dishwasher, you will want to check them for any trouble spots and remove them before you do the general cleaning in the dishwasher. Furthermore, see that you do not have any damaged spots on your footwear; placing shoes in the dishwasher with pre-existing cosmetic or structural damage may make it worse. Have the open part of your shoe over the bottom rack’s rungs in the dishwasher, and the sole of the shoe is facing up. You can run the dishwasher with your regular dish soap in it but be sure to turn off the heated dry, otherwise you might shrink your shoes. Let your shoes air-dry overnight. Your flip flops and sandals can be cleaned on the top rack in the dishwasher.
Keys
Your keys go where you go, you are always touching them, and they usually get set down on tables and desks. This means that your keys are covered in bacteria and you probably don’t clean them as much as you should, if you clean your keys at all. Thankfully, you can put your keys in the dishwasher. Simply place them in your silverware holder, and your keys will come out clean and sanitized. However, key fobs should never get soaking wet, much less in a dishwasher.
Pet Supplies
Your pets love their toys, so much so that they are covered in drool and slobber. For your health and your pet’s, keep the toys clean. Most pet toys and supplies can be cleaned often in the dishwasher. You should not use detergent when cleaning pet supplies as it can contain harmful chemicals. Instead, use a little vinegar for a pet-safe cleaning solution in your dishwasher. Pretty much all pet supplies that are not leather can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Like shoes, it is important that you do not use the heated dry setting.
Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes get dirty quickly which is bad for your skin. If you clean them frequently, they will last longer, perform better, and keep your skin healthy. Makeup brushes can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. Put makeup brushes in your silverware holder and run them through a regular cycle. After you clean the brushes, make sure they are completely dry.
Hand and Garden Tools
Gardening tools get dirty with each use. A dishwasher can handle cleaning your gardening tools and other hand tools, too. Do not use the heated dry option as plastic parts of tools will melt. Immediately after the wash cycle, use a towel to dry by hand to prevent rust forming on the tools.
Plastic Children’s Toys
Children, like our pets, bring their toys everywhere, and occasionally, carry them in their mouths. Children’s toys must be cleaned often, especially before a playdate. While a simple wipe down will normally suffice, you may want to sanitize and deep clean your children’s toys ever so often. Most, if not all, of your children’s plastic toys can go in the dishwasher to easily clean and sanitize them. If you have numerous small items, such as Legos, place them in a mesh bag so they don’t get lost in the cycle. Once again, turn off the heated dry setting to keep from melting any of the toys.
