Frugal Fact: Five Uses for Your Dishwasher That Will Save Your Money!!
Frugal Fact: Five Uses for Your Dishwasher That Will Save Your Money!!
Dishwashers aren’t just for washing dishes. That’s right. Did you know that many household items that could benefit from a good cleaning can be tossed into your dishwasher as well? Not only do dishwashers do a great job scrubbing away dirt and debris, but they also use steam and heat which can deep clean. Why not get more bang for your buck when it comes to your dishwasher? Use it to wash and disinfect these following household items, making the items not only last longer but saving you a little time as well! Below you will find five uses for your dishwasher that will save your money!
Remember, disinfectants can be costly, and for larger pieces such as light fixtures, vents, or sporting equipment, you are going to require quite a bit of product to get the job done. Instead fill the dishwasher to capacity and get more items cleaned in a shorter amount of time without harsh chemicals!
Take a look at the top five items your dishwasher can help you get clean and save your money and time doing it.
1. Rain Boots:
April showers are upon us! Rain boots are worn on the muddiest of days, so they tend to take some abuse. If your boots are lined, see of the liner can be removed. Then, put the boot in the rack horizontally. If your boots are extremely muddy, scrape off the excess before washing.
2. Action Figures:
Small toys such as cars and action figures can be enclosed into a mesh lingerie bag and rest on the top rack. It is much easier than trying to clean all of these tiny parts yourself. This way, they will get clean and be disinfected and be ready to be played with all over again!
3. Ball Caps:
Baseball caps tend to get a lot of wear and tear. Cotton baseball caps can get bent in the washing machine but hold their shape well in the dishwasher! This is especially true if you tuck them inside a contraption like the Ball Cap Washer for extra protection.
4. Vent and Light Covers:
Take a peek at your household vent covers. Are they dusty and nasty? These can get quite dusty and dirty and need washing a few times a year. Keeping these vents clean will also help someone has allergies in the house. If your vents are plastic, aluminum, or steel you are good to go. Enameled, painted, or plated should stay out however. You can also do the same with light fixture covers. Just like your vents, light fixture covers need regular washing. Glass fixtures are fine in the top rack, as long as they’re not antique, enameled, or painted.
5. Sports Guards:
Do you have athletes in your house? Shin and knee guards as well as mouth guards all need regular cleaning and disinfecting, and the dishwasher is the perfect place to do that! Just toss it in and forget about it.
When washing any of these items, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- You will want to use a basic, everyday setting when washing any of these items.
- Word of warning, do not use a heavy-duty setting such as the “pots and pans” option.
- A heated drying method is fine and should not harm your items.
- Be sure to use a standard detergent.
- Avoid any additives such as finishing solutions as those may harm your items.
You might be shocked to know the dishwasher could do so much! So save yourself some time, elbow grease, and put the harsh chemicals away. Your dishwasher will do the trick for you for a whole lot less! Not only does it save your money by not having to buy as much cleaning products, by taking good care of your belongings they will last longer. And that alone will save your money!
Want to see more frugal tips on how to save your money? We have lots of frugal tips here.
