The Dishwasher Tablet Hack Taking Over the Internet

A simple cleaning trick has recently gone viral online, earning praise from people around the world. It relies on an inexpensive product many of us already have in the kitchen cabinet: a dishwasher tablet.

Dishwasher tablets contain concentrated cleaning ingredients designed to break down baked-on grease, dried food residue, and limescale. That makes them surprisingly versatile for tackling certain cleaning jobs around the home.

On the popular YouTube maintenance and DIY channel Smart Fox, the dishwasher tablet is described as a particularly useful household hack: “If you have only used tablets in your dishwasher, you are going to be surprised.”

Cleaning Baked-On Grease From the Oven

One of the most popular uses for dishwasher tablets is removing stubborn, baked-on grease from the oven without endless scrubbing.

Dissolve one dishwasher tablet in a bowl of hot water, at a temperature of about 140°F (60°C), and let it dissolve for around half an hour. Put on rubber gloves, dip a sponge into the solution, and apply it to the surfaces inside the oven.

According to Smart Fox, there is an additional trick that helps keep the cleaning solution in contact with the grime for longer. Dip paper towels into the solution and spread them over the oven surfaces. Because the wet paper towels stick to the surfaces, including the sides, the cleaning solution has more time to work.

Leave them in place for about an hour, then remove the paper towels and wipe the surfaces clean.

Removing Limescale and Cleaning Drains

The dishwasher tablet solution can also be used to tackle limescale on shower doors, faucets, and tiles.

Dissolve one tablet in about 7 ounces (200 ml) of hot water, then add approximately 27 ounces (800 ml) of additional water. The effectiveness of the solution comes from ingredients in dishwasher tablets that are designed to help break down limescale inside the dishwasher.

Another possible use is loosening grease and buildup inside drain pipes. Place a tablet over the drain opening and slowly pour approximately 1.5 liters, or about 6 cups, of hot water over it. This allows the dissolved cleaning ingredients to travel into the drain, where grease and grime can accumulate and contribute to clogs.

Leave it for about an hour, then rinse the drain thoroughly with hot water.

More Dishwasher Tablet Cleaning Tricks

Dishwasher tablets can also be used for a few other household cleaning tasks. According to the Smart Fox tip, the bottom of a warm iron can be gently rubbed with a tablet to help remove buildup. A tablet can also be placed inside a hanging toilet cleaner holder to help freshen the toilet regularly.

The channel also suggests that when using tablets for their original purpose, washing dishes, an entire tablet may sometimes be more than necessary. It recommends cutting a tablet in half before placing it in the dishwasher, claiming that half a tablet can still provide a clean result.

As with any concentrated cleaning product, however, dishwasher tablets should be handled carefully. Always wear rubber gloves when using the solution for household cleaning, avoid contact with your eyes and skin, and keep tablets and prepared solutions away from children and pets.

The solution should not be used on aluminum, unsealed wood, or natural stone. It is also important not to mix dishwasher tablets or their solution with other household cleaning products.

With the right precautions, an ordinary dishwasher tablet may prove useful for far more than simply getting the dishes clean.