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)