Healthy Home
Dishwasher DUTIES
20 surprising things you can clean in your dishwasher. (Spoiler alert: it’s not just dirty dishes and glassware!)
Your dishwasher can do a whole lot more than just clean those dirty dishes after a big Sunday supper. Look around your home;
you’ll find plastic, glass and metal items that could use a rinse, too.
Microwave Turntable
This one may be obvious, but the spillage could
use some suds!
Kitchen Sponge
Toss it on the top rack or in the utensil
holder to kill the bacteria while washed
on high heat.
Exhaust Fan Cover
Dirt and grime are trapped no more — put it
in for a thorough degreasing.
Vase
Glass vases are like cups and can harbor green grime.
Place a delicate vase on the top rack.
Cabinet Hardware
Yup! If it’s not hand-painted, put it in.
Toothbrush Holder
Tame your toothbrush and kill off bacteria to limit the transfer
from one toothbrush to another. (Gross!)
Light Switch Cover
How many times per day do you turn the light on and off?
Place the cover on the top rack to remove fingerprints and the
germs you can’t see.
Rubber Mat
Whether in the shower or in the sink, it needs a good, clean
rinse — sans feet and dirty dishes.
Comb
Toss it in the utensil basket and you’re good to go.
Shower Pouf
Not only does it harbor dead skin and lots of bacteria, it
removes your body oil too, so give it a bath of its own.
Bath Toys
Rubber ducks, LEGO men: you name it and
they can be de-germified.
Nail Tools
Toss in the mani and pedi tools to kill
bacteria and any lingering fungus.
Rubber Boots/Flip Flops
Yes, they can be cleaned here too, but we
suggest running the dishwasher on an empty
cycle before loading up the dishes again.
Flower Pots
Plastic on top, ceramic on bottom, but rinse off excess
dirt first. This helps get rid of plant diseases that may linger.
Pacifier
Place the paci in the utensil holder for easy cleaning. (We sure
hope you’ve got an extra on hand for your crying baby.)
Pet Toys
Remove slobber and doggie dirt from your furry friends’
favorite toy.
Pet Bowls
Fido deserves to eat off a clean plate, too.
Refrigerator Shelf
These shelves might be bulky, but make them as fresh as the
food they store.
Vacuum Attachments
It may do a good job at cleaning up dust bunnies, but dirt can
be left behind in the cracks and crevices.
Contact Lens Case or Pill Box
You touch it daily and have probably never thought twice about
cleaning it off. Toss it on the top rack and it’s as good as new.
When Life Hands You Lemons
Clean the microwave. Measure ¹/2 cup of
water into a bowl, squeeze lemon juice into the
water and drop two lemon halves into the bowl.
Microwave for three minutes. The steam trapped
inside will help loosen the food gunk. Let it stand
for five minutes, then easily wipe the inside of
the microwave clean.
How lemons can be used
when cleaning your home.
Freshen up the disposal. Pour vinegar
into an ice cube tray and place small chunks
of lemon in each pocket. Grind the frozen
cubes to clean and sanitize your garbage
disposal. It will smell fresh, too.
ALL IMAGES THIS SPREAD: GETTY IMAGES.
66 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY/JUNE 2020