4 unusual uses for dishwasher tablets – it’s the key to working smarter, not harder when cleaning

Dishwasher tablets aren’t just for your dishwasher. These powerful cleaning agents can tackle various household chores, making them a secret weapon for smart cleaning.

I have been a professional cleaner for years and here are four unusual ways to use dishwasher tablets in your home, how they work, and product recommendations to make these tasks even easier.

Make best use of your dishwasher tablets with these cleaning tips to reduce the elbow grease needed and turbocharge your chores.

My five unusual cleaning uses for dishwasher tablets

1. Removing burnt-on grease from pots and pans

Dishwasher tablets contain degreasers and enzymes that break down stubborn burnt food and grease. When cleaning kitchen grease off cookware, fill the pan with hot water, add a dishwasher tablet, and let it soak for an hour. Scrub gently, and rinse clean to revive cookware with minimal scrubbing effort.

I recommend CascadePlatinum Dishwasher Tablets for its grease-fighting formula. Pair with a SiliconeScrubbing Brush (both available on Amazon) to avoid scratching your cookware.

I've been a professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless and have lots of tips to offer. If you’re still getting to grips with cooking and cleaning stainless steel pans, this will take the edge off the difficult-to-shift scorching you might experience until you learn how to cook in a way that makes it truly non-stick.

2. Cleaning grimy washing machine drums

Dishwasher tablets dissolve grime, detergent residue, and odors inside your washing machine. Place one tablet in the drum and run a hot cycle without laundry. The tablet will break down buildup, leaving the machine fresh and clean.

This will clean your washer and prolong its life, as well as ensuring cleaner laundry. It will also help tackle mold and mildew when cleaning a washing machine that smells.

3. Tackling shower door soap scum

The robust cleaning agents in dishwasher tablets cut through tough soap scum and mineral buildup, making it a great and unexpected but effective unusual use for cleaning your shower well.

Wet the tablet slightly, then rub it on the shower door glass. Use circular motions for tough spots. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. This will leave the glass sparkling without harsh scrubbing.

It‘s a good one to use when deep cleaning your bathroom. I also recommend the Mr. Clean MagicEraser as an alternative tool for smaller spots.

The Solved team have also tried and loved cleaning faucets with lemon for stubborn limescale and found wax paper, available on Amazon, to be effective in keeping mineral deposits away from faucets and fixtures for a week.

4. Cleaning oven racks

The enzymes and degreasers in dishwasher tablets break down baked-on grime with ease.

To clean your oven racks, after cooking, and when the oven and hardware has fully cooled down, place your racks in a bathtub filled with hot water and add a few dishwasher tablets. Let soak for several hours, then scrub with a brush, and rinse.

Dry fully before returning to your oven. Saves hours of scrubbing while restoring your oven racks. I recommend the Scotch-BriteHeavy Duty Scrub Sponges for removing stubborn stains. Their scouring pads not only do the job, but tend to last longer than the pads of generic sponges.

With hosting season coming, ovens are one of the dirty places in the kitchen I always notice.

Now you know five ways to make use of your dishwasher tablets to reduce your cleaning effort around the home, delve into surprising and unusual uses for lawn mowers, snow blowers and Zip Loc bags.

We particularly love the brilliant and unusual ways you can use petroleum jelly around the home, including getting rid of rust and stopping squeaky doors.