Dishwasher Hacks That You (Probably) Don't Know

The dishwasher has become one of the biggest chore-cutting inventions of recent decades, and anyone who's owned one can tell you that it makes doing dishes a breeze. You just pop them in, add some detergent, push a button, and then wait. The machine makes a little noise, and BOOM! You have clean dishes.

What could be better than that? Well, if you use these dishwasher hacks, it can quickly turn into the best investment you ever made for your kitchen.

Is there nothing that vinegar can't clear? One of the easiest to use dishwasher hacks to try is to add a little bit of white vinegar to your rinse cycle. This cleans your vinegar and reduces the amount of odor your machine has.

If you're sick of splurging for dish tabs, you can just make your own.

Worried about people mistaking your dish tabs for Tide Pods? You can make your own dish tabs using citric acid, baking soda, and dish soap at a fraction of the cost. This is great for crafts fans on a budget, and also can help you reduce your shopping list significantly.

Dishwashing hacks often mean new ways of cleaning your dishwasher, and this one isn't any excuse to that rule. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that's cheap as can be.

To get rid of a nasty smell (ex. your mom's garlic pasta remains) from a washer, just sprinkle some baking soda over the dishwasher's interior, and run the wash through a hot cycle.

When washing your washing machine's interior, use a toothbrush to get rid of the gunk.

You know how leftover food ends up clinging to your washing machine? Gross, right? Well, if you're tired of using your fingernails to get rid of the grime, you can always opt for a toothbrush to do the dirtiest work for you.

It's also better to do this before you let your washer air dry. Wet gunk gets off easier than dry gunk.

Your silverware caddy is one of the best tools for dishwasher hacks—but only if you know how to use it well! To start, group silverware by type. This gives them an even cleanliness. Also, if you're cleaning small objects, use a mesh bag to keep them from falling through the holes.

You can also rinse off vegetables.

No one wants to eat dirt and grime when they bite into veggies. To rinse off all your goods in a single swoop, just set them on the top rack of your dishwasher for a rinse-only cycle. (No dishwasher detergent, of course!)

Small toys can also be sanitized with a dishwasher.

This is one of those dishwasher hacks that every mom should know. Toys that are made of material that doesn't melt, such as plastic action figures, can be cleaned by throwing them in the dishwasher as well.

Glassware always seems to have the magical talent of being able to break in a wash despite being labeled "dishwasher safe." If you have a strong dishwasher, one of the best dishwasher hacks for your delicate goods is to secure them to the racks with a rubber band.

Got stains inside your machine? Kool it.

And by "Kool it," we mean adding lemon-flavored Kool-Aid to your machine. Lemons are rich in citric acid, which is a natural stain-fighter. Putting Kool-Aid through a rinse cycle just gets a pretty good amount of stains out faster than you'd think.

Use your dishwasher to clean your washing gear.

You know how the stuff you use to clean gets all dirty? Well, if you put your sponges, brushes, (de-linted) dryer filters, and broom trays in the lower rack of your dishwasher, you can make your cleaning supplies look like new again.

All you need to do is sprinkle some baking soda inside, load up some dishwashing liquid, and run it through a rinse cycle or two. Then, just let the goods air dry. You'll find that this is one of the most useful dishwasher hacks on this list.

Oven's broken? Want some juicy salmon? Well, if you keep your dishwasher clean, someone managed to concoct one of the coolest dishwasher hacks we have yet to see. The hot water from dishwasher apparently is just the right temperature to cook meats in.

This video shows you how to make a delicious salmon dish in the dishwasher. (Hint: clean your dishwasher before you use it as a cooking device.)

Clean your keyboard.

Gamers, we all know how vile and nasty those keyboards can get. Whether it's due to eating while typing or just extra use, you need to consider using some hacks—including dishwasher hacks—to make them a little more sanitary.

Set the keyboard face down, right on the top rack. Then, run it through a rinse cycle, remove it, and place it face down on a paper towel. Then, let it air dry for a couple of days.

This is a bit risky, but most desktop keyboards are dishwasher safe. Surprised? So are we.

Makeup brushes are bacteria traps, and yes, that bacteria trap can end up causing you to break out if you're not careful. If you haven't guessed, dishwasher hacks can help you out here, too. Just drop your makeup brushes in and use a little bit of regular dish soap to clean them off.