You can use dishwasher tablets for more than just your dishwasher
Obviously, you use dishwasher tablets for (what’s in a name) the dishwasher. But did you think you can only use these tablets to get yourself some clean dishes? Then you would be wrong! They’re very handy for all kinds of chores around the house. In other words; it’s a real waste to just use them for the dishwasher.
Before we’re moving on to the 6 hacks with dishwasher tablets, did you know washing by hand is actually cheaper?
Costs
Research done by the Dutch Consumer Association shows that the average dishwashing programme costs €0,22 per load, which is €80 (or £70) a year. Of course, this doesn’t include the purchase or maintenance costs. This is much more expensive than doing the dishes by hand!
Economical washing up
The Consumer Association says there are three condition to doing the dishes by hand. You shouldn’t rinse your dishes with warm water before actually washing them; you should do your dishes in a dishpan and you shouldn’t use too much dish soap. If you follow these conditions when washing up, you’ll definitely be more economical than the dishwasher would be.
Using the dishwasher economically
Are you not convinced and do you want to keep using your machine? There are a few ways to make sure it runs cheaper:
- Don’t rinse your dishes before putting them into the machine; most machines no longer need this. Just scrape off the food scraps into the trash can and put the dirty dishes into the washer.
- Only turn on the machine when it’s completely filled.
- Use the eco programme, since this will save you about €20 a year.
- If you have an electricity supplier that offers cheaper tariffs at night, turn on the machine at night.
Washing machines
We use our washing machines and dishwashers so often that we tend to take their automatic cleaning powers for granted. We believe that since these appliances are made to wipe away grime, they can’t possibly get dirty themselves. But you might have noticed that your machine isn’t getting things as clean as it used to…
Do you ever clean your washing machine? Many people don’t, but it’s actually very important as it prevents a lot of problems. Experts advise to run a load with one or two dishwashing tablets once a month. Set the machine at 90 degrees celsius for the best results. This prevents nasty smells and rinses the machine, which prevents clogging. This trick is especially useful for machines of 5 years and older, because it can prolong the machine’s lifespan quite a bit.
We’ve also got a bonus tip for you for washing new clothes. Put the new clothes in cold water overnight before washing them the next day. This makes sure they won’t change color or shrink!
Deep fryer
One of the most annoying chores we can think of is cleaning our deep fryer. It’s very difficult to remove all of the excess grease on the inside of the fryer. Luckily, a dishwasher tablet can make this task a lot easier. Fill the empty deep fryer about three quarters with warm water and add a dishwasher tablet. Leave the fryer basket in there as well. Turn on the fryer but make sure it doesn’t get any hotter than 90 °C. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. Next, rinse the deep fryer with hot water. Extra tip: chances are that when you’re cleaning the deep fryer, a typical deep frying smell will spread, so we recommend opening a window.
Deodorizer
Something a lot of people have trouble with is a cooking smell lingering in their home long after they’ve cooked the specific food in question. This especially happens when you’ve fried some fish or made pancakes. An easy way to get rid of these smells in your home is by using a dishwasher tablet. All you need to do is take a large pot and fill it with a good layer of water. Put it on a low heat and add a dishwasher tablet. The cooking smells will be absorbed by the pot of water and your home will smell fresh once more!
Brown stains
The true tea fanatics among us will be familiar with this problem: the ugly brown stains that are left behind in tea pots, mugs and glasses. No matter how hard you scrub when you’re doing the dishes, it’s not very easy to get rid of them. Luckily, we’ve got a solution for that: a dishwasher tablet (you guessed it!). Fill a tea pot with some boiling water and a dishwasher tablet, or divide this dishwasher tablet water over the mugs. Let this sit and soak for an hour and then carefully rinse it all. You’ll notice the brown stains have disappeared!
Yellow stains
Yet another difficult stain to get rid of: yellow stains in, for example, white T-shirts. It’s especially difficult to remove the yellow stains around the armpits. A dishwasher tablet will solve this problem for you, though. All you need to do is add one tablet to your washing machine. Just follow your regular washing programme and your clothes will be pearly white again!
Pots and pans
Got burnt pieces of food stuck in your pot or pan and do you have trouble removing them? Then a dishwasher tablet is your new best friend. Put the pot with the caked on food onto the stove. Fill the pot with a layer of water and place the tablet in there. Turn the stove on to a medium to high heat and let the water boil for a couple of minutes. Next, clean the pan with a sponge or a dish brush and it’ll look as good as new!