I Tried Putting Aluminum Foil in my Dishwasher & Here’s What Happened…
See why people are putting aluminum foil in the dishwasher to make silverware sparkle thanks to TikTok.
Wanna get the most out of your dishwasher cycle?
I’m spilling the tea on how to maximize the use of your dishwasher for a deeper clean. Some of these home tips may be old news to you, but there’s one tip involving kitchen foil that may actually surprise you!
The dishwasher is one of my most used appliances since I am washing so many dishes in my work and personal life. I am always interested in learning helpful tips and hacks to implement!
Here are 5 helpful dishwasher tips for the best clean:
1. Use a ball of aluminum foil in the dishwasher to make dishes and silverware sparkle.
After seeing this tip trending on TikTok I had to try it for myself, and was honestly shocked at how well it worked! The next time you’re about to throw away a ball of foil, place it inside your dishwasher near the silverware and see what happens after washing your dishes like normal.
Spoiler Alert: The foil makes your silverware so shiny as well as the glassware! According to Reader’s Digest, the reason lies behind the chemicals in the dishwasher detergent reacting with the foil creating an oxidation process.
I am honestly so impressed with this tip and tell everyone I know. HAHA!
2. You can wash other household items in the dishwasher besides dishes.
My son and husband wash their baseball hats in the dishwasher all the time because it won’t mess with the shape. Use a mesh bag to corral and wash plastic kid toys or dog toys. You can even clean your dryer vent, vacuum attachments, and sponges in the dishwasher.
Pro Tip: For the hats be sure to use dishwasher detergent that doesn’t have bleach or citric acid.
3. Clean the inside of your dishwasher using just white vinegar and baking soda!
Have a yucky-smelling dishwasher? Place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the upper rack of the machine, and sprinkle a cup of baking soda over the bottom of the machine. Run the washer on a HOT cycle without any dishes or detergent.
This will help get rid of any odors and grease inside your dishwasher.
Also, did you know you’re supposed to clean out your dishwasher filter once a week? Turns out they can collect so much food and gunk. Just unscrew the filter, rinse and wash it with hot soapy water, and be sure to put it back in correctly.
4. Stack dishes so they face the center of the dishwasher instead of in the same direction.
Here’s something that makes total sense and yet I never really thought of it before. Since the action happens at the bottom center of the machine, it makes sense to have your plates facing the center to have the best chance of getting clean.
Also, most sources say that rinsing dishes in the sink with water before loading is not needed. Simply scraping the larger food particles is enough and less wasteful. You’ll save on average 20 gallons of water per day. Are you team rinse or team scrape?
5. Utilize the small side panels on the top rack that fold down to hold wine glasses.
Did everyone already know this but me?! LOL! 😂 I had no clue these little racks are to hold wine glasses securely so they don’t move around and give them more room. That is so genius! Also, the top rack on my dishwasher is easy to adjust up and down using the levers on the sides.
Check to see if yours has these features!
Here are the 14 best cleaning tips for keeping your house clean, even with kids!
