Your dishwasher is capable of doing more for you than just cleaning your dirty silverware and dishes.  According to the November issue of Real Simple magazine, if you use the normal setting on your dishwasher, you can clean these items in it as well.

Baseball caps – Baseball caps can get bent in the washing machine but hold their shape in the dishwasher, especially inside the Ball Cap Washer ($5 amazon.com).  Don’t wash them with dishes though or food might get trapped in the cloth.

Tools – Tools with metal or plastic handles will be fine.

Ceramic cabinet knobs - These knobs do well in the silverware basket.

Hairbrushes – Combs and hairbrushes made of plastic can go in the dishwasher, but not wood or natural boar-bristle brushes.

Fan grilles, switch plates, and vent covers – If they are plastic, aluminum, or steel they are dishwasher safe.  Enameled, painted, or plated items are not.

Shin guards, knee pads, and mouth guards – Wash them in the top rack.

Action figures and other small toys – Put them in a mesh lingerie bag on the top rack.  But don’t wash Barbie or she’ll have a horrible hair day.

Light-fixture covers – Put them on the top rack, so long as they are not antique, enameled, or painted.

Garden tools – They may have come in contact with pesticides or animals, so don’t wash them with a load of dishes.  Also don’t wash tools with wood handles.

Potatoes – Potatoes get nice and clean in the top rack with a rinse-only cycle (no detergent).  It also makes mashed potatoes for 20 a lot quicker.