Thread Number: 47370
6 Unconventional Uses for your Dishwasher |
[Down to Last] |
Post# 687904   7/8/2013 at 03:29 (3,917 days old) by ultramatic (New York City)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I've heard stories in the past, but who knew?
A rundown of the most unconventional uses for your home dishwasher.It takes the right mix of ingenuity and desperation to discover new uses for old tools, but whoever first tried steaming a salmon fillet in their dishwasher must’ve been drunk. For folks who are curious about what else their kitchen contraptions can do, here’s a rundown of the most unconventional uses for your home dishwasher. Steam Fish FilletsThe best part about steaming fish in your dishwasher—other than novelty of steaming fish in your dishwasher—is how simple it is. All you need to do is season a cut of your favorite fish, wrap it (tightly!) in aluminum foil, place it in the top rack, and allow it to run through an entire normal cycle. There’s no single recipe that works best; just make sure you wrap it tight enough to keep water out. Also, don’t forget to engage the dry cycle, and for the love of fish don’t load the detergent!
Make this meal in your dishwasher—but don’t load the detergent!
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, check out these recipes for dishwasher lasagna and dishwasher potatoes. There’s a whole culture of dishwasher chefs with too much time on their hands! Wash Baseball CapsBaseball caps can fade and become misshapen in traditional washing machines. So instead of washing them that way, try loading them in the top rack of your dishwasher and running it on a full cycle. Of course, you don’t want to run the machine with dirty dishes in it; this will just spray food all over your precious Diamondbacks hat. For fledgling roller derby enthusiasts, you can also clean knee pads, shin guards, and other sports equipment in your dishwasher. But we don’t recommend putting your jock strap in there. That’s just gross. Clean FootwearOkay, so maybe this is crossing the line, but some people aren’t weirded out by feet. We wouldn’t suggest tossing sweaty running shoes in your dishwasher, but flip-flops and rain boots are fair game. (Crocs, however, are not—does anybody still wear those anyway?) Just remove any lining, hang them from the top rack and run them through a full cycle—and don’t forget the dry cycle.
One cycle in the dishwasher will clean up dirty rainboots, no problem.
Wash ToolsA proud man or woman will frown upon the idea of a pristine, unblemished tool kit, but sometimes your little analog gadgets need to be rinsed of all that gunk, mold, and rust. They can be placed anywhere in the tub (preferably the top rack); just make sure you don’t load any tools with wooden handles—metal and plastic only. Sterilize Toys and Other Nasty Home ProductsAction figures, brushes, dog toys, and even sponges—these are all notoriously filthy items found around the average home, and they can all be washed (more importantly, sanitized) in your dishwasher. Place small items in mesh bags, sponges in the cutlery basket, and be sure to rid brushes of all hair. Also, be wary of the high temperatures that Sanitize cycles reach (upwards of 155 degrees Fahrenheit), as you don’t want to melt the face off your daughter’s Barbie dolls… Or do you? Clean With... Kool-Aid?It’s ironic that your dishwasher—a machine devoted to cleaning dishware—can itself get dirty. Apartment Therapy recommends using Kool-Aid drink mix (that’s right, Kool-Aid drink mix) to rinse out lime deposits and iron stains. Just empty a packet of the Lemonade flavor into the detergent dispenser and give it a go. As the big guy would say, Ohhhh yeah! The fact that this popular sugary beverage can help clean stainless steel interiors makes us worry about what it can do to our stomachs, but we’ll leave that for Mythbusters.
Do you use your dishwasher in any odd or unconventional ways? Share them with us in the comments section below!
(Scroll to the bottom in link for comments) CLICK HERE TO GO TO ultramatic's LINK |
|
Post# 687918 , Reply# 1   7/8/2013 at 07:29 (3,917 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Fish is so easy to cook that I cannot envision a reason why I would ever try wasting all that water time and electricity trying to do it in the DW.
As to cleaning a DW with Kool-Aid I am sure that there far more cost effective ways and better ways to clean the inside of your DW, and keep in mind that if you are using your DW properly it should NEVER need cleaning, my 25 YO WP DW is basically as clean as the day it was first installed with no buildups or staining of any kind inside. |
Post# 687932 , Reply# 2   7/8/2013 at 09:11 (3,917 days old) by rockland1 ()   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
One of my first cars had wire wheel covers. I washed them in the KitchenAid. |
Post# 687933 , Reply# 3   7/8/2013 at 09:15 (3,917 days old) by electron1100 (England)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 687937 , Reply# 4   7/8/2013 at 10:18 (3,917 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I used to work at an electronics manufacturing facility that loaded assembled printed circuit boards into a dishwasher for cleaning. They changed over to an aqueous soldering flux so a good bath in hot water did the trick. Before that all boards were cleaned in a vapor degreaser filled with a halogenated florocarbon solvent. The water filled dishwasher was much more environmentally friendly.
At home I have seen all kinds of items loaded into dishwashers for cleaning with few problems. I do remember a gunk filled fabric softener dispenser that didn't have the expected results... The dishes came out soft though! |
Post# 688128 , Reply# 5   7/8/2013 at 23:55 (3,916 days old) by joeekaitis (Rialto, California, USA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 688288 , Reply# 8   7/9/2013 at 18:04 (3,915 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
If you have flexible racks and some talent at balancing objects, the home dishwasher is an ideal proofing box for yeasted breads and pastries. The moisture is more important than the heat, but you'll achieve both by letting the machine fill and run for a minute or so and then shutting it off manually. The fact that you can close the door and it seals somewhat hermetically helps a lot. Just don't forget to check your stuff periodically to make sure that nothing is "overproofing" (increasing in size more than 175% as a general rule).
|
Post# 688422 , Reply# 10   7/10/2013 at 09:55 (3,915 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 688475 , Reply# 11   7/10/2013 at 14:54 (3,914 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I began reading saying to myself "I would never do that." As for the article I would never cook--it's too easy to just start a steamer without wasting a cycle. Then I kept reading.
Caps--ok well maybe, Toys--I've done that, however, it sanitizes not sterilizes. Shoes/boots--nope. I do use the DW as a proofing cabinet for my bread when the kitchen is cooler in the winter. |
Post# 688479 , Reply# 12   7/10/2013 at 15:04 (3,914 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 688545 , Reply# 13   7/10/2013 at 20:13 (3,914 days old) by electronicontrl (Grand Rapids, MI)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 688648 , Reply# 14   7/11/2013 at 06:04 (3,914 days old) by AquaCycle (West Yorkshire, UK)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I put vacuum cleaner parts in the dishwasher when I'm working on old machines that need cleaning up. Hoses, tools and other parts come out clean as a whistle!
I've also put my computer keyboard through the dishwasher. As long as you let it dry afterwards before plugging it back in, it's no problem. I do know people who have put their cat litter trays through the dishwasher (with bleach, obviously!) but this isn't something I've ever wanted to do. |
Post# 688649 , Reply# 15   7/11/2013 at 06:07 (3,914 days old) by AquaCycle (West Yorkshire, UK)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 688713 , Reply# 16   7/11/2013 at 10:15 (3,914 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 688852 , Reply# 17   7/11/2013 at 21:58 (3,913 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
ALWAYS has a dishwasher in his vac shop, he runs fans,armature field coils..everything thru, I couldnt believe it, but everything comes out like new. |