21 Things You Can Totally Wash in a Dishwasher

Some people would choose "vacuum" or "washing machine" as the best modern household invention, but I'm holding firm at "dishwasher." And really, after reading this list, we may want to consider re-naming it the "almost-anything" washer.

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1. Pet Accessories

Bowls, leashes tucked into silverware compartments or wrapped securely around dividers, Kongs, plastic chew toys, even cage bottoms and frames needing a santizer course. Pets are second only to 7 year-old boys as world's messiest eaters.

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2. Potatoes

Your turn to make baked potatoes for 150 at this year's staff holiday party? No trouble - run them through a regular course on the top rack with no soap in the dispenser. You can thank me with a baked potato.

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3. Baseball Caps and Flat Hats

Think your hats are clean? Take a peek. Take a sniff.

Pick yourself up off the floor and sanitize those suckers tucked safely on the top rack. Brims will emerge clean and uncrushed. Your head will thank you.

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4. Crocs and Flip Flops

Our shoes take a beating and if you stop and think too long about what we walk over in a day, you'll never go outside again. Throw all plastic footwear into the machine and leave the germophobia to the machine.

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5. Tooth and Hair Brushes

Clean all excess hair from brushes and combs and run through hot cycle in flatware compartment. Great for toothbrushes, too - especially during cold and flu season or after your annual garlic festival.

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6. Sponges

Sponges are germ factories. CLOSE THE FACTORY - wash your sponges nightly with your regular load on sanitize cycle.

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7. Nail Clippers and Tweezers

My son once used my eyebrow tweezers to pull a wad of hair from the bathtub drain, and only because I asked him why he had put them back in the wrong place. Learn from my trauma.

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8. Rubber Boots

Tip upside down and run through rinse cycle after a muddy romp in the...wherever people are romping in the mud these days.

*Knock off big chunks and clumps outside first!

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9. Car Accessories and Cup Holders

Because I can't travel more than 10 feet from my house without a coffee, my car cup holders take a beating. If yours are 10 on the "ick scale" and they're removable, pop them in a regular wash and get that "almost brand new" car feel again.

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10. Loofah and Shower Scrubbies

We wash to get dirt and old skin off our bodies. But where do you think that crap goes? Sure; some goes down the drain, but the rest is stuck on THIS thing. Washing in the regular machine means it usually gets tossed into the dryer accidently, turning it into a small plastic clump of garbage. Preserve the softness AND avoid the gross stuff inside by washing in top rack of dishwasher.

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11. Phone and iPad Covers

Once removed from the phone, of course.

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12. Mitten and Boot Dryer

I love our mitten dryer but I did not realize how dirty snow is until it melted and dried into a salty brown crust all over the mitten dryer. These are difficult to wash so just toss 'em... in the dishwasher.

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13. Knick Knack Bric-a-Brac

Sure, you could wash it all by hand. But don't you have a life to live? Throw that sh*t in the diswasher on the top rack.

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14. Toys

I'd rather lick a hospital doorknob than a kid's toy. Put them in the dishwasher using tongs and you won't have to actually touch them, ever.

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15. Plastic Bibs and High Chair Parts

One night, after a particularly exhausting Toddler Spaghetti Fight Extravaganze, I learned that our high chair tray fit in the bottom rack of the dishwasher. I was never sad again.

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16. Air Vent Covers

Take a close look at your vent covers. They're gross and if you have kids or pets, don't lie - they're disgusting. If your aren't, you live in a bubble and never have gray roots. I DON'T WANNA KNOW YOU.

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17. Sex Toys

a. Make sure they are waterproof.
b. Take them out before your teen reaches "Empty Dishwasher" on chore chart.
c. Maybe don't do at same time as potatoes.

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18. Artificial Plants and Silk Flowers

If they're sturdy and not real silk, give them a rinse on the light cycle. You won't beleive how much better they look - almost (but still not quite) real!