18 Things You Never Knew You Could Clean in Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher is basically a steamy little car wash for items that fit on a rack and don’t melt into modern art. Yes, it was born to clean plates. But it’s also surprisingly good at washing all kinds of everyday household things that get grimy, sticky, dusty, orworst of allmysteriously “film-y.”

If you’ve ever stood at your sink hand-scrubbing a toothbrush holder while questioning your life choices, this article is for you. Below are 18 dishwasher-safe items (or “usually dishwasher-safe,” because manufacturers love surprises) that can come out cleaner with less effortplus the real-world tricks that keep the whole thing from turning into a regret cycle.

Before You Start: A 60-Second Dishwasher Reality Check

Dishwashers clean with heat, water pressure, and detergent. That combo is amazing for hard, non-porous materials and terrible for anything that can warp, swell, rust, crack, fade, or lose its glue.

Quick rules that prevent dishwasher heartbreak

• Check the label first (bottom stamp, packaging, product page). When in doubt, treat it as “hand-wash only.”
• Top rack is the “safe zone” for plastics, silicone, and small parts. Heat is usually gentler up there.
• Skip heated dry for anything plastic, rubber, or silicone unless it’s clearly rated for high heat.
• Avoid wood, cast iron, carbon steel, and anything hand-paintedthey can crack, swell, or lose finish.
• Remove food, hair, dust, and gunk first so your dishwasher doesn’t become a gritty soup factory.
• Use a mesh bag for small items (think: LEGO pieces, hair clips, bottle parts) so nothing falls into the filter.
• Separate categories when you can (bathroom + pet items away from dinnerware), especially on a hot cycle.

Now, let’s turn your dishwasher into the most productive employee in your house.

18 Surprisingly Dishwasher-Friendly Items

1) Toothbrush holders

Toothbrush holders collect toothpaste sludge and water drips like it’s their job (because it is). Disassemble any removable parts, place them on the top rack, and run a normal or hot cycle. Bonus points: flip it upside down so water can reach the inside.

2) Soap dishes and sponge caddies

That “soap scum” is basically a sticky scrapbook of everything you’ve ever washed off your hands. Ceramic, glass, and many hard-plastic soap dishes do well on the top rack. Rinse off thick goop first so it doesn’t redecorate your dishwasher mid-cycle.

3) Sink strainers and drain covers (silicone or metal)

If it lives near a drain, it’s seen things. Many silicone strainers and stainless-steel drain covers can go in the utensil basket or top rack. Shake off food bits and hair first, then let the dishwasher do the gross part for you.

4) Plastic shower caddies and suction-cup shelves

Shampoo drips + steamy bathrooms = a sticky film that never quits. If your caddy is hard plastic (not painted metal), pop it on the top rack. Remove suction cups if they’re soft and floppysome do fine, others get weird. Air dry if you can.

5) Nail and grooming tools (stainless steel)

Nail clippers, tweezers, and small scissors can usually handle a dishwasher run if they’re stainless and not coated. Put them in a basket section so they don’t bounce around. When the cycle ends, dry them promptly to reduce spotting or rust.

6) Plastic hairbrushes and combs (no wood, no natural bristles)

Remove hair first (pleaseyour dishwasher is not a salon vacuum). Then place plastic combs and brushes bristle-side up in the utensil basket or top rack. Skip brushes with wooden handles or cushioned pads that trap water.

7) Hair accessories (plastic clips, rollers, comb attachments)

Hair products love to leave residue on clips and rollers. Toss hard plastic pieces into a mesh bag on the top rack. Avoid anything with fabric, delicate coatings, or decorative gems glued onyour dishwasher is not gentle with “craft glue energy.”

8) Stove and oven knobs (removable)

Greasy knobs are a quiet kitchen villain. Pull them off (make sure your stove is off and cool), and place them on the top rack. If they have printed labels, use a gentler cycle and avoid harsh detergents that could fade markings.

9) Range hood filters (metal mesh)

If your filter is metal mesh, the dishwasher can help break down grease buildup. Rinse off thick grease first, stand it upright (or lay it flat if it fits securely), and run a hotter cycle if your filter manufacturer allows it. Expect a noticeable “less greasy kitchen air” upgrade afterward.

10) Microwave turntable and roller ring

The glass turntable and the roller ring underneath it can usually go right in with a normal load. This is the easiest way to remove splatters and that invisible sticky layer that makes you wonder if your microwave is… sweating.

11) Fridge shelves, drawers, and produce bins (if they fit)

Many refrigerator bins and shelves are designed to be washable, and the dishwasher can save you a whole sink-soaking saga. Use the top rack when possible, avoid heated dry, and let parts come to room temperature first to reduce cracking risk.

12) Silicone oven mitts, trivets, and baking mats

Silicone tends to be dishwasher-friendly and comes out less greasy than hand-washing. Place flat items like baking mats so water can circulate, and don’t wedge them so tightly that the spray arms get blocked. If it still feels slick after, run a quick rewash with less detergent.

13) Reusable silicone lids and food-storage accessories

Stretch lids, reusable zip-top bags (if labeled dishwasher-safe), and silicone bowl covers can go on the top rack. Flip pockets or folds open so water reaches inside. Skip high heat if the edges look thin or delicate.

14) Water bottle parts: caps, straws, and silicone gaskets

Bottle lids and straws are tiny germ hotels. Use the top rack and a small-item basket or mesh bag. Remove silicone gaskets if you can; they clean better when separated and you’re less likely to trap moisture afterward.

15) Vacuum attachments (plastic only)

Crevice tools and brush attachments pick up dustand then keep it forever like a souvenir. Tap out dust first, then run plastic pieces on the top rack. Avoid anything with motors, electronics, or felt padding.

16) Dustpans and small broom heads (plastic)

Cleaning tools need cleaning too. Shake off debris outside, remove hair, and place plastic dustpans and detachable broom heads on the bottom rack if they fit securely (top rack if you’re worried about warping). Air dry is usually safest.

17) Light switch plates and outlet covers (plastic)

These get touched constantly and cleaned rarely. If they’re plain hard plastic (not painted specialty finishes), remove them, rinse off dust, and place on the top rack. Let them dry completely before reinstallingelectricity is not a fan of moisture.

18) Pet bowls and hard rubber/plastic pet toys

Many stainless, ceramic, and dishwasher-rated plastic bowls clean beautifully in a hot cycle. Hard rubber or plastic toys (no batteries, no squeakers that trap water unless rated for dishwashers) can go on the top rack. If you’re squeamish, run pet items in a separate load. Your dishwasher will not judge you. Your dog might.

Make It Work Better: Loading Tricks That Matter

• Give water a path. If items overlap, you’ll get “clean-ish” instead of clean.
• Anchor lightweight plastics. Angle them or use rack clips so they don’t flip and fill with dirty water.
• Use the right cycle. Normal is fine for most items; “heated/sanitize” is great for hard, durable, non-porous pieces.
• Don’t overdo detergent. Too much can leave residue on plastics and silicone (the opposite of your goal).
• Clean your dishwasher occasionally. A dirty dishwasher can’t do its best work.

Conclusion: Your Dishwasher Is a Cleaning Sidekick, Not a Magic Spell

The best way to use your dishwasher for “non-dish” cleaning is to think like a materials scientist with a sense of humor: hard, heat-stable, non-porous items? Usually yes. Wood, delicate finishes, electronics, and anything glued together by hope? Absolutely not.

Start with one or two easy wins (toothbrush holders and stove knobs are life-changing), then expand your lineup. Once you realize how many dishwasher-safe items you can clean in your dishwasher, you’ll spend less time scrubbing and more time doing literally anything elseincluding staring proudly at your sparkling range hood filter like it’s a trophy.

Household “Field Notes”: Extra of Real-World Experience

Here’s what people tend to learn the first few times they try cleaning non-dish items in the dishwasheraka the part where your confidence grows and your mistakes get… oddly specific.

First lesson: plastics love to flip. The first time someone tosses a lightweight shower caddy on the bottom rack, it often comes out holding a perfect cup of gritty water like it’s presenting you with a science experiment. The fix is simple: top rack when possible, angle items so water drains, and use rack clips or place heavier items nearby to keep things from doing somersaults mid-cycle.

Second lesson: heated dry is where dreams go to warp. Many people learn this when a perfectly good plastic bin returns looking like it tried to “hug itself” during the drying phase. Air dry (or “no heat” dry) is your friend, especially for fridge bins, suction cups, bottle lids, and anything thin.

Third lesson: grease needs a head start. Range hood filters can come out impressively clean, but if they’re coated in months of cooking residue, you’ll get better results if you scrape or rinse heavy grease first. Some households run the filter alone (or with similarly grimy items like stove knobs) so the whole wash is focused on degreasing instead of trying to multitask with wine glasses.

Fourth lesson: mesh bags are the unsung hero. People who toss LEGO pieces in loose often find two outcomes: (1) a handful of pieces migrate to places only a repair technician can find, or (2) you later hear a strange rattle that turns out to be a tiny brick auditioning for percussion. A mesh laundry bagor even a dishwasher-safe small-item cagekeeps everything contained and still lets water flow.

Fifth lesson: labels and printing are delicate divas. Stove knobs with printed markings, decorative plastic pieces, or anything with a “soft-touch” coating can fade or peel if the detergent is harsh or the cycle is too hot. A gentler cycle and placing items away from the heating element usually helps. When in doubt, test one piece firstthink of it as a “pilot episode” before you commit to the whole season.

Finally, the most satisfying realization: once you start doing this, your home feels cleaner with less effort. Toothbrush holders stop looking haunted. Bottle caps stop smelling vaguely like yesterday’s smoothie. Dustpans stop spreading dust in the name of cleaning dust. And you’ll catch yourself scanning rooms thinking, “Will it fit on the top rack?”which is both a practical mindset and, honestly, a little bit of personal growth.

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