21 THINGS You Can Clean In Your Dishwasher
Your dishwasher doesn't just clean dishes.
Since the patent for the first practical dishwashing machine issued December 28, 1886, to Josephine Garis Cochran, a lot has changed from her first version. It came out of a woman's idea of washing dishes faster without breaking them. This woman inventor went on to found KitchenAide®. Her company name was a great description of what most women want in the kitchen. So today, we're going to discuss how effective your dishwasher aides in cleaning everyday household items.
The real peace of mind comes from knowing Powerizer Complete is the only product that has all three cleaning products to get your dishes and dishwasher clean. Detergent, rinse aid and dishwasher machine cleaner all in one that will save you money and eliminate the fuss of forgetting to add rinse aid or doing a monthly maintenance cleaning. It's effective at washing wearable fabrics, fibers like upholstery and carpet, and hard surfaces, not just your dishes. It's made from plant and mineral-based ingredients with no fillers and no dyes. Powerizer easily rinses clean in the laundry and dish cycle with no additional additives needed. Powerizer rinses clean, so no residue is left behind. It contains a oxygen bleach with a supercharged vinegar-like ingredient that oxidizes to remove odors. The natural enzymes for cleaning attack starches and proteins to quickly breakdown and dissolve stains. So now that you have the best detergent for the job let your dishwasher do the rest.
For dishwashing, use 1/2 to 3/4 a scoop of Powerizer and place the detergent in the dishwasher's dispenser.
To make a concentrated pre-treat solution, use one (1) scoop of Powerizer in a 16 oz. squeeze bottle with a breathable tip. 
We will quickly address the best placement and preparation for your items to ensure you obtain optimal results when cleaning these 21 things.
It's essential to research the types of plastics you place in the machine to avoid items melting or releasing toxins as a result of long term exposure to high temperatures. The standard temperature of the water entering your dishwasher must be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit and never more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit. If plastic melts onto the heating coils, it can be easily removed. Our objective is to make sure that things stay put, and this doesn't happen. The first clue is to search for the Dishwasher Safe symbols.
For metal and glass items, your prominent placement should be wherever it fits.
For Fabrics and Plastics, check out the notes we've provided below.
| 1. | Tools | Lay flat to avoid obstructing the spinning arm or place them in the silverware rack if it's short enough. |
| 2. | Shoe Inserts | Lay them horizontal on its sides like a plate so that during the wash and rinse, the detergent can rinse away quickly. |
| 3. | Vent Registers | Place on the top or bottom shelf, leaning on its side, similar to how you would store a plate. |
| 4. | Oven Mitts | Top rack standing long and horizontal to avoid shifting to the lower rack where the heating elements are. |
| 5. | Slides & Flip Flops | Follow the same instructions for shoe inserts. |
| 6. | Dust Pan, Hand Brushes, Bottle, Brush | Place brushes in the silverware holder unless they are too tall, otherwise, lay them flat on the upper rack. The dustpan should be placed similar to a plate. |
| 7. | Microwave Turntable | Place in plate holder slot on the lower rack. |
| 8. | Manicure & Pedicure Tools | These should be placed in silverware caddy unless the tools slip through the holes; otherwise, place a small enough jar cap flat on the bottom of the compartment to provide a base, so the tools don’t slip through. |
| 9. | Toilet Bowl Brush & Holder | Pre-treat the toilet brush in a concentrated mixture of Powerizer to remove yellow-orange stains. The solution will stay active for up to 8 hours. Lay both on flat on the lower rack. The holder should be faced down. |
| 10. | Baseball Caps | Pre-treat stains with a concentrated solution of Powerizer Complete for targeting spot removal such as sweat around the brim to give the detergent time to penetrate the stains and, if necessary, scrub the surfaces with a toothbrush or damp microfiber cloth first. |
| 11. | Sports Mouth Guards | Place in the silverware caddy to avoid falling through the rack |
| 12. | Baby Teething Bars | Same as Mouth Guards |
| 13. | Cleats | See instructions for Baseball Caps. |
| 14. | Soccer Shin Guards | Lay horizontal on either the lower or upper shelf |
| 15. | Plastic Synthetic Flowers | Lay them on the top rack |
| 16. | Kids Toys. LEGOS & Building Blocks | Usually, toys are made of an HDPE Plastic material which is safe for washing on the top shelf. Place them in a mesh bag to make sure they stay in pace and tuck the strings inside the bag to avoid them from dangling and getting caught in any of the moving components. |
| 17. | Workout Gloves | Standing up in the cup area top shelf with at least one finger over a vertical grate and use the Velcro to strap it to the bottom of the grate to avoid movement during the wash cycle. |
| 18. | Vacuum Attachments | Standing up in the cup area if short enough, if it’s a more extended attachment try the lower rack standing or as a last option lay it horizontal on either the top or bottom rack. |
| 19. | Vacuum Detachable Filters | We recommend rinsing before adding to the lower rack, Stand them upward. |
| 20. | Phone Cases | Place in the upper tray area standing on its side |
| 21. | Shower Mat | Lay on the top shelf like an accordion to allow maximum exposure to all surfaces. After the cycle ends, water may be trapped in the crevices, so you may need to dump the water trapped in the folds if it hasn’t thoroughly drained. |
This article will help you sort through items in your home to determine if certain plastic items are safe for washing in the dishwasher. The graphic below identifies the lowest melting points of each type of plastic, which ultimately can affect the potential for off-gassing, which increases when plastics are exposed to higher temperatures.
Now that you are a little more familiar with cleaning other things in the dishwasher take some time to gather items around the house or office and run a wash cycle to see how it works for you. Powerizer has many other blogs that help walk you through cleaning everything dirty in your home. Search for a topic and expand your cleaning palate with Powerizer Complete. Be sure to leave us a comment.