9 Surprising Things You Should Be Cleaning With Dishwasher Tablets

You probably already know that dishwasher detergent tablets are powerful little tools for fighting grease and grime on your dishes and utensils. What you may not know is that this kitchen mainstay is just as versatile as it is mighty.

The 5 High-Touch Areas In Your Kitchen You Should Be Cleaning Every Day

You can—and definitely should—use them for all kinds of cleaning needs, besides just your dishes. From your air fryer to your oven, here’s how to revolutionize your kitchen chores with powder or gel dish detergent tablets.

Using Gel or Powder Dishwasher Tablets

1. Deep clean your air fryer

Annoying stuck-on food in your air fryer basket? Dishwasher tablets to the rescue. Simply set one inside, then pour boiling water over it. Let the detergent do its work for ten or so minutes, then dump the basket in the sink and rinse with water. Easy, right? 

2. Erase burnt-on gunk from pots and pans

Scrubbing scorched residue from pots, pans, and baking sheets can be time-consuming. A dishwashing tablet can make this job a whole lot easier. Just add a tablet to the offending item, pour hot water, and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then, dump the water in your sink and use your sponge or dish brush to remove any remaining gunk.

3. Conquer stinky garbage disposals

Your garbage disposal can quickly develop offensive odors if food debris gets stuck inside. It’s easy (and fast!) to clean your disposal by tossing in a dishwasher tablet and running hot water through it with the motor running. The soap and water will help remove any lingering food bits and cut through grease and grime, along with tackling any gross odors inside the disposal. 

4. Refresh your trash can

You could spend 20 minutes inside your trash can scrubbing it with a sponge and dish soap. Or, you could let a dishwasher tablet do most of the dirty work for you. After you empty the trash, drop a dishwashing tablet in the bottom, then fill the bin with hot water. Let the can enjoy a spa treatment for up to an hour, dump the dirty water, and wipe away any remaining residue inside before drying with a clean rag.

5. Mop your floors

Next time you mop your kitchen floors, just add a dishwasher tablet to a bucket of warm water. Just like inside your dishwasher, the soapy mixture will help fight grease and tackle stains on your floors.

6. Shine up your silverware

Want to polish streaky or tarnished cutlery? Try dissolving a dishwashing tablet in a sink or large bowl full of hot water, then add your dirty silverware. After an hour or two, scrub the utensils with a sponge or brush, then rinse and dry. 

7. Make your sink sparkle

If you have a powdered dishwashing tablet on hand, you can use it to scour away any and all stuck-on gunk from inside your sink basin. Or, you can try closing the drain of your sink, filling it with water, and using a gel dishwasher tablet to loosen hard-to-clean gunk before scrubbing with a brush or sponge. 

Using Powder Dishwasher Tablets

8. Clean inside your oven

No need for harsh and smelly chemicals next time you clean your oven. Instead, dip a powdered dishwasher tablet in hot water, then use it to scour your oven floor, walls, or even inside the glass door. When you’re finished, wipe away the grime with a wet cloth. So easy!

9. Rehab your tile grout

You don’t necessarily need a fancy specialty cleaner to refresh your backsplash grout. Instead, try making a cleaning paste with a powdered dishwasher tablet. Just add the tablet to a bowl with a bit of hot water until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to the grout lines with a detail brush, allow it to sit for 15 minutes, then wipe it away with a wet cloth.