The versatility of dishwasher tablets! 14 alternative uses for them indoors and outdoors
Designed to remove food residue from the dishes in the dishwasher, dishwasher tablets can also be used in unexpected ways in around your home and outdoors.
The chemical composition of dishwasher tablets makes them perfect for cleaning the whole house, and it's well worth having some to hand - even if you don't have a dishwasher!
That said, you must remember to take all necessary precautions when using them as general cleaners for your home, since the chemical compounds contained within them could be harmful to your skin: therefore, always use rubber gloves when cleaning your home with dishwasher tablets and always make sure that they will not damage the surfaces you intend to use them on (test on a hidden spot first).
Let's discover together the 14 incredible, alternative uses for dishwasher tablets at home and outdoors.
1. In the oven
Do you struggle to remove burnt-on grime from your oven? Well, thanks to dishwasher tablets, you will be able to remove this grime quickly. Crumble up a dishwasher tablet in a spray bottle of hot water, mix thoroughly so that it dissolves completely and spray on the dirt. Your oven will be as good as new in a jiffy.
2. Small and large appliances in the kitchen
Not only the oven, but also the refrigerator and espresso machines can be effectively cleaned with the use of dishwasher tablets. For the former, you can dissolve a tablet in water as indicated previously; for the latter, however, it will be sufficient to place the tablet together with the water into the boiler of the coffee machine and start a cleaning cycle just as you would with a regular descaler.
3. Sinks
Whether they are simply dirty, give off bad odors or are completely clogged, all sinks can be cleaned using dishwasher tablets. Use the tablet like a sponge directly on the sink, letting warm water run over it if you need to remove stubborn stains; or crumble it into the drains followed by a pot of boiling water if the problem is bad odors and blockages.
4. Bathroom
Place a dishwasher tablet in your toilet's cistern and wait for it to dissolve. It will make the inside of the cistern clean and shiny again.
5. Fabrics
Whether it's coffee or red wine stains on sofas and carpets or stained clothing or tablecloths, dishwasher tablets can come to your rescue. On sofas and carpets, simply apply by dissolving the tablet in water in a spray bottle; for clothes and tablecloths, these can be pre-treated by soaking them in water and a dishwasher tablet.
6. Grouting
Grouting is amongst the most difficult things to clean in the home, both due to the difficulty in reach it with our tools and the tenacity with which dirt can adhere to it. You can apply a thick paste made with a dishwasher tablet and a little water and leave it to act on the surface for 20 minutes to soften the dirt; then rinse off with warm water.
7. Washing machine
Place a dishwasher tablet directly into the washing machine's drum and start an empty wash at high temperature to effectively remove limescale and dirt from this appliance.
8. Silver jewelry and cutlery
Silver can be difficult to clean, especially when it is tarnished. Soak your silver cutlery or jewelery for at least an hour in a solution of water and a dissolved dishwasher tablet to make these items much easier to polish.
9. Garbage bins
Garbage bins get extremely dirty, but with a little attention we can easily keep them clean. At appropriate intervals, carry out a thorough cleaning by filling them with water and dropping a dishwasher tablet into them.
10. Tea and coffee stains
With use, cups and mugs can become stained with tea and coffee and it can be difficult to get them clean again. Try soaking them for at least an hour in a bowl with warm water and a dissolved dishwasher tablet. This will almost certainly work.
11. Cat litter
It is not always easy to clean cat litter boxes. When particularly dirty, fill the litter box with warm water and dissolve a dishwasher tablet into it. This will return the litter box to pristine condition.
12. Shower head
Even the shower head can be easily freed from limescale by using a dishwasher tablet: dissolve it in water and immerse the shower head into the mixture for a while.
13. Oil stains
Car engines (especially old ones), can leak oil onto your driveway, leaving horrible, hard-to-remove stains. Have you struggled with this problem?
Try dissolving a dishwasher tablet in a bucket of water, apply it to the stains and scrub with a brush.
14. Plastic garden furniture
Garden furniture is constantly exposed to the weather and for this reason, it can start to degrade. Try dissolving a dishwasher tablet in warm water, spray it on the furniture and leave it to act for 20 minutes before wiping off with a sponge.
Did you already know about these alternative uses for dishwasher tablets?
