WHAT CAN YOU WASH IN YOUR DISHWASHER?

If you think your dishwasher is only good for last night’s crusty supper dishes, think again. Chances are, it could be working a lot harder for you. In fact, there are probably lots of little things you’ve been washing by hand — or not washing at all — that your dishwasher will get sparkling clean.

Here are just a few:

Things You CAN Wash In The Dishwasher*

• Baby toys, bottles and pacifiers (special baskets that keep small items safe are available at many stores or included with some dishwashers)
• Cutting boards (not wood)
• Baseball caps (look for plastic baskets that maintain the cap’s shape — available at many stores)
• Golf balls
• Vases
• Dish scrubbers/scratch pads
• Scrub brushes
• Dish drainers
• Sink/bath mats
• Combs
• Toothbrushes
• Sponges
• Light fixtures
• Cans/bottles to recycle
• Plastic items that are labeled “dishwasher safe”

*There are, of course, things that can NOT be safely washed in the dishwasher. Some are obvious — like the VCR or the dog. Some are not — like that piece of abstract art that used to be a plastic bowl. If in doubt, check with the item’s manufacturer. Here’s a list of things you shouldn’t attempt to wash in the dishwasher.

Things You SHOULDN’T Wash In The Dishwasher

• Cast-iron pans (seasoning will be removed and iron will rust)
• Antique or hand-painted china
• Gold-plated flatware
• Milkglass (may yellow with repeated dishwashing)
• Disposable plastics/plastics NOT labeled “dishwasher safe”
• Antique or very lightweight crystal
• Pewter
• Hollow-handle knives (handles may be attached with adhesives that will loosen if dishwasher-washed)
• Furnace filters
• Wooden items (may warp or crack)
• Tin (may rust)