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Tip Store: Cleaning: Dishes and Dishwashers

​Dealing with Burnt Saucepans

​Occasionally it happens, you get distracted and the next thing is you can smell something burning. It usually takes a lot of scrubbing to get rid of the burnt stuff. My tip: remove what you can easily then soak the saucepan in some cold water. When the saucepan is cool, get a paint scraper and use it to scrape the bottom of the saucepan. I have had great success doing this. You can also use the paint scraper on your glass cooktop when saucepans have boiled over. It does not scratch the glass and the rest can usually be removed without too much scrubbing.
Contributed by Jenny Walker

​MOO Dawn Power Wash (Blue Fairy in Australia)

Ingredients:
325 ml water 
88 ml blue fairy (Dawn Dish Soap) 
60 ml isopropyl alcohol

Put them all in to a spray bottle; gently mix by rotating bottle bottom to top, with the lid on of course. 
Now you have your power wash spray for dishes; use sparingly this is very strong. I use it daily. 
Contributed by Helen Monori

​FOR INEXPENSIVE DISHWASHING

​When I have got lots of lemons one of the uses is to use a squeeze of a lemon into hot water. You can see it's grease cutting power and it's good for your nails and hands. If a glut of lemons comes all at once I freeze them whole and take one out each night. Sometimes you may only need half a lemon - depending how much fat you have in cooking. I use little so don't have that much problem in that area. 
Contributed by Deborah Hunter-Kells

MOO Fairy Dish Spray

​This cheap easy cleaner will clean dishes, greasy pots and pans, glass, counter tops, cook tops and many more. Fill a spray bottle with a small amount of washing up detergent, a squirt of alcohol. I use Isocol from supermarket and top up with water. That's it. It works the same as the spray Fairy detergent, but costs very little to make your own. 
Contributed by Sharon Pauley

​Tuff Scrubbies for Nix

Cath you inspired me! After watching your show on trimming back the budget, you talked about making scrubbies. I have been hesitant in the past but now that I too need to be more careful, I decided to have a go. I didn't want to buy cotton yarn (no spend) so searched the internet for a solution. BINGO I found an old tatty net skirt in my daughter's dress up box, cut the netting into strips about 3cms wide and created a yarn of sorts. The result is fantastic. I managed to make 2 double scrubbies. They are soft enough on my hands but work really well on my pots. It only cost me my time.
Contributed April Wright 

​Why Dishes are Wet at the End of the Drying Cycle

​I remember reading an explanation about how to dry dishes that are still damp once the dishwasher drying cycle has finished some time back. The explanation lies in the mix of china, metal, plastic and glass. This link is for a detailed answer. https://learn.compactappliance.com/wet-plastic-in-dishwasher/
Contributed by Fran Sheean

​Specific Heat Capacity

When it comes to drying dishes in the dishwasher, according to Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki: Specific Heat Capacity. Ceramic plates store lots of heat>evaporate water away, but plastic plates store very little heat>little evaporation
Contributed by Jules Buxton

Drying in the Dish Drainer

When I unload my dishwasher and the plastics are still wet  I just pop them in my dish drainer for a while and they dry in no time. 
Contributed by Leanne Gardner

​Let Dishes Air Dry in Dishwasher Overnight

I generally put our dishwasher on at night, then when it's finished and everyone has gone to bed, I open it up and pull all the draws out, dishes are all dry by the morning.
Contributed by Claire Pascoe

Cheap Dishwasher Powder

I resent paying big money out for automatic dishwasher detergents. Both Woolworths (larger stores) and Coles sell a cheap kilo packet of dishwashing powder that cleans dishes just as good as the expensive tablets! Usually found on the bottom shelf at $2 a kilo, I only ever put about 2 teaspoons of detergent in the container, and I use the ALDI 'Logic" rinse aid. My dishes, glasses and saucepans come up clean and sparkling. it is mainly the high temp of the water and the force of the spray that cleans the dishes, not the detergent.
Contributed by Janet Bogner

An Easy Rescue of a Burnt Saucepan 

​If you've been cooking, and the inside of your saucepan is burnt black, cover the bottom with vinegar and add a few tablespoons of carb soda. Put the saucepan in the freezer overnight and in the morning take it out and let the liquid start to thaw. You'll find the baked on gunk will just lift off. I was sceptical when I heard it, but I tried it, and it definitely works.
Contributed by Lyn Churchyard

​Lemon Fresh Cutting Boards

​Cutting boards are handy to have in the kitchen but they hang on to odours, no matter how hard you scrub.  It is easy to clean and freshen your chopping boards without having to buy anything special and with just two items you probably have in the kitchen right now.

You will need:
Table salt
1 lemon

Step 1.  Sprinkle your cutting board with salt. Just a light sprinkle over the board, it doesn't have to be thick. You just want enough salt to make step two a little more effective.

Step 2.  Cut your lemon in half (if you haven’t already), put your cutting board flat on the sink or benchtop (I prefer the sink, it catches any mess), and give it a thorough scrubbing for a minute or two. Don’t be afraid to put a little elbow grease into it, you want to clean and freshen this chopping board.

Step 3.  Rinse the lemon and salt off in your kitchen sink under cold water (hot water turns wooden cutting boards yellow and encourages stains and odours to stick to plastic boards), wipe over with a clean tea towel and stand up to let everything dry thoroughly before putting it away.

Can you smell that lemon-fresh scent? It's your nice, fresh chopping board.

​Keep Sponges Clean

A study of 30 different surfaces in 22 homes found that the kitchen sponge has the most bacteria – harbouring more germs than your toilet seat! Eww!

If your sponge or kitchen cloth has seen better days, it's a good idea to replace it instead of tossing it in your dishwasher. Old or worn out sponges may break apart and possibly damage your dishwasher.

To help keep your sponge clean:
Keep in a dry place. Bacteria thrives in moist environments, so it’s important to keep your sponge dry. Wring out your sponge after every use and store it in a dry place.
Run it through the dishwasher. Place your sponge on the top shelf with the rest of your dishes. Run the sponge through the dishwasher on the hottest cycle. Be sure to air dry the sponge thoroughly afterwards.

Microwave it. A study from the USDA’s Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Centre found that the microwave is the best at killing bacteria, yeast and mould in kitchen sponges. If you don’t have a dishwasher, microwave a soaking wet sponge on the highest setting for two minutes. Carefully remove the sponge and let it cool before use.

Replace it. Replace your sponge every two weeks. Tip: Try sponges made from natural and sustainable materials to reduce waste. I move sponges from the kitchen, to the laundry, to the bathroom and finally it is binned.

​Save on Washing-up Detergent

Put the detergent on the dishcloth instead of into the sink full of water. If the dishes are mostly little-soiled, only put an inch or two of water into the bottom of the sink; wash one item with the liquid in the cloth without squeezing too hard.
Contributed by Lynn Dingley

Shop around for Better Value Dishwasher Tablets

I mainly use finish, but never pay supermarket prices. They are often available in packs of 90 - 114 for about $20 in discount stores, especially reject shop, which almost always has them. I have also had good results with fairy brand and the Aldi premium one. In new dishwashers you can use almost anything and get good results, but as they wear out a bit you seem to need the extra oomph of premium brands.
Contributed by Lisa Docherty

MOO Dishwasher Powder a Financial Bonus

I like simplicity and gentle MMO cleansers. My best dishwasher powder is equal quantities of cooking salt, bicarb, Lectric Soda and borax mixed together with 1/4 the amount of citric acid. So I generally put 4 tablespoons each of salt, bicarb, Lectric Soda and borax, with 1 tablespoon of citric acid in a little bottle and shake to combine. Since using this mix, I have absolutely no residue on items, and no build up in my machine from other commercially bought products full of fillers. I also have a dish drawer and cannot use tablets which is a financial bonus! And speaking of gel filled pods which are quite new, I do not like these at all as the cutlery and dishes have a nasty bitter taste left on them. Hope this helps :)  
Contributed by Lynda Philips

Reject Shop Dishwasher Tablets do the Job

I like the Finish brand of tablets but buy them when they come on special at the Reject Shop or discount shops. Often they will have a special on bulk boxes. They aren't always the 'new & improved' variety but do the job just as well. I read a tip that you can use white vinegar as a rinse aid which also helps to keep the dishwasher clean as well.
Contributed by Trudie Wales

Tablet vs Dishwasher Powder and Rinse Aid

A repair man told me that the tablets can do damage as they drop down from the dispenser. I use either Aldi or Woolworth brand powder as it is loads cheaper than tablets. I use vinegar in place of rinse aid. You can also use lectric soda as the powder.  
Contributed by Janine Benson

Dishwasher Tablets bought in Bulk on Sale

I use Finish - tried powder and cheaper tablets but not great results. I buy in bulk off websites like Catch of the Day, Groupon, etc. when they have their specials (keep an eye on the per tablet price and check how many tablets per pack as sometimes it's cheaper to buy the 30pk). Sometimes the local supermarkets have good deals but not often good enough. I put vinegar in the Rinse Aid section. I also cut a lemon or lime into half or quarters (depending on size of fruit) and toss into the bottom of the dishwasher - helps cut through the grease and also smells divine!
Contributed by Karen Clarke

Choice and I Prefer Earth Brand

I use the Earth brand of tablets, they are much cheaper than Finish and work a lot better. They came out almost top of a Choice test. They are quite often on special too and are better for the environment. I alternate between rinse aid and white vinegar in my rinse aid dispenser.
Contributed by Tee Wearing

Buy Finish for a Fraction of the Cost of Supermarkets

I've only used Finish, because most people I know recommend the product. I only purchase this product from clearance stores e.g. Reject shop/Price Attack as they always have large boxes of tablets and rinse aid for a fraction of the cost of the supermarkets. The deodorisers that hang in the dishwasher and last for up to 100 cycles are well worth the money as they leave the dishwasher with a pleasing odour.  
Contributed by Christine Williams

Cheaper IS Best

I always used Finish powder, and had good results. When I became an Aldi shopper, I tried their Logix tablet range and was immediately won over. Not only for the price point, but the result was better than Finish (in my opinion). I now also use the Rinse Aid, that helps with taking the water droplets off the plastic and glasses. I also clean my dishwasher every month, washing the filter by hand, then splashing home brand white vinegar liberally inside the machine, and put on for a 30 minute cycle. I find this helps take those 'sandy deposits' away that have a nasty habit of appearing on my coffee cups every now and then.  
Contributed by Lyn Beardmore

Dishwashing Tablets and Rinse Aid

I use Homebrand dishwashing tablets and I cut them in half, so one box lasts 60 washes, and have always used vinegar in the rinse cycle. Dishes are always shining.  
Contributed by Jane Reid

Sparkling Dishes on the  Cheap

I have always used Aldi tablets and no name rinse aid. I don't even rinse the dishes first and they always sparkle.
Contributed by Jenny O'Donnell

Dishwasher Tablets

I have my first dishwasher. Found Finish brand very expensive. Tried Aldi's Logix brand tablets and Rinse Aid, they are a lot cheaper and find it works just as well as the more expensive brand.
Contributed by Janice Langer-Waters   

Dishwasher Savings

I use the cheaper supermarket brand dishwasher powder and find them just as good as the expensive brands. I don't pay any more than $7 for a bottle of powder and I don't use as much as recommended and my dishes are perfectly clean. For a rinse aid I use cheap home brand vinegar, much cheaper and works a treat, and no your dishes won't smell of vinegar. I also use cheap vinegar as a fabric softener, good results, no smell and no nasty detergents left in the clothes.  
Contributed by Rachel Hull

Half the Dish Washer Powder, Great Results

I use Aldi dish wash powder and only half fill the little container in the washer...it is enough powder to do the job well. Also I only use short wash cycle to save water and power.  
Contributed by Margaret Ryan   

Dishwasher Options

I just use straight vinegar as rinse aid and go to my local $2 shop where I get tablets for $1.50 for a box of 15. I have never really found much of a difference in the quality of wash between expensive and cheap tablets.  
Contributed by Cass Field  

Bulk Buy Online and Save on Dishwasher Tablets

Buying dishwasher tablets from the supermarket can be quite expensive. I recently saved a lot of money buying a large box of 120 tablets from Catch of the Day - an online email I subscribe to. Normally you can pay an average of 60c/tablet, but by buying online these tablets cost less than 20c each and often you can get free postage. Plus they are the Finish tablets too not cheap knockoffs.  
Contributed by Carol Sadler

Cheapest not always Best when it comes to Dishwasher Tablets

I've found that in some instances cheapest is truly not always the best. I know that some recommend make your own tablets or using store brand, but for me, I have never found the cheaper option to be the best. I have bought and tried many different brands of dishwasher powder/liquid/tabs over the years and hands down I have found Finish Quantum and Fairy to be stand out performers. They are more expensive, however you can often find them on special online or even in store, so perhaps if you are going to use these then you just need to stock up when you see a good price. I am sure there is nothing wrong with using cheaper options, but just know that they will not perform as well as the others. My dishes come out clean (including baked on food!), dry, glasses aren't cloudy and streak free. If you are happy to compromise though then there is absolutely nothing wrong with paying for a cheaper product that fits YOUR budget-do what works for you. Maybe if you want to, consider doing a little challenge while you still have some of the good quality tabs-buy a store brand and a cheaper name brand and maybe a powder and put them to the test...that way you can test them out over a few washes and see for yourself and make up your own mind. Even if you aren't thrilled with one product they will all get used eventually. :-)  
Contributed by Bron Taylor   

​Lemon Fresh Dishwasher from Scraps

We put lemons over the top rung of the dishwasher after squeezing them. Next time dishwasher is finished, it will smell nice and clean. The lemon peels will start to disintegrate after a few washes but you just throw them in the compost, ensuring there is absolutely no waste at all from the lemons you use.
​Contributed by Jill Dalglish

​How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Step 1. Place a dishwasher-safe cup filled with plain white vinegar on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. The vinegar will help to wash away the loose, greasy grime, sanitizes, and helps remove the musty odour. Step 2. Sprinkle a cup of bicarbonate soda around the bottom of the dishwasher. The bicarbonate soda will help freshen the smell of the dishwasher as well as brighten up the look of the inside of your appliance by removing stains. Step 3. Using the hottest water available, run the dishwasher through a cycle – except for the cup of vinegar and the bicarb soda, the dishwasher needs to be empty.1. Cath's Corner Now that the dishwasher is clean and running right here are a few tips to keep it that way until the next cleaning. A routine dishwasher cleaning is a good habit to get into. Mark it on the calendar to do regularly each month, the same day you do the drains. Run a bit of hot water in your sink before running the dishwasher. You will get cleaner dishes if the water starts hot. You can collect the water you run and use it for watering plants or other purposes. Run the water until what comes out of the tap feels hot. Make sure your water starts hot enough. Set the thermostat on your water heater to 50 degrees Celsius. Water that is cooler than this won’t be hot enough to clean properly and water that is any hotter could scald. Run full loads to conserve water and energy, but don’t pack dishes too tightly. Dishwashers wash dishes by spraying water over them, so the water needs to be able to get to the dishes to clean them. If you are inclined to pre-wash your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, DON'T! Dishwasher detergent needs a certain amount of grease and dirt in order to do its job. Otherwise, it actually foams up during the cycle which is not good for your dishwasher. By all means scrape any food scraps off, but don't rinse or wash them - that kind of defeats the purpose of having the dishwasher anyway doesn't it.
Cheapskates Tip of the Day

​Rejuvenate Non-stick Cookware

Approximate $ Savings: $349

I have a very good quality, heavy based non-stick sauté pan which was not as 'non-stick' as when new. I lightly covered the cooking area with bi-carb soda, then about 1cm white vinegar, brought it to the boil on a low-medium heat for about 1 minute then rinsed out with hot water. I then rubbed the area with a soft cloth until no more dark 'stuff' came off the pan, and oiled it with cooking oil. It's non-stick is now as good as when I bought it. RRP for our pan is currently $349 and I paid around $150 on sale, so I've saved at least this much by not having to buy a new pan. Never cook higher than medium heat with these pans and never use spray cooking oil and these type of pans will last much longer as well.
​Contributed by Tracey Ellis

​Keeping Wooden Chopping Boards Clean and Germ Free

To disinfect and clean your wood cutting boards or butcher block countertop, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Vinegar is especially good for people with chemical allergies. Keep a spray bottle of undiluted vinegar handy for easy cleaning and sanitizing.
Contributed by Tess Russon

​Cleaning Up an Oily Pan

A great way to mop up oil from your frying pan other than paper towels is to pour about one cup or so of generic brand packaged breadcrumbs over the oil. Cover the base of the pan liberally and allow to sit and soak up the oil for about 30 minutes. Using a plastic spatula swirl the breadcrumbs around the pan then scrape into the bin and wash the frying pan as usual. This saves a fair bit of paper and space in the bin.
Contributed by Kathryn

​Once a Week Use a Dishwashing Tablet

After becoming a convert to the cheapskates MOO dishwashing powder, I found after a little while my glasses were looking a little cloudy. So I now use a ALDI brand "Logix" dishwashing tablet once a week or so. The great thing about the "logix" brand is that they are very easy to cut the tablets in half, unlike the other brand budget dishwashing tablets. Half a tablet does a good job, and a pack of 30 costs $4.99. This is 16c per tablet or 8c per half, of course even less if you alternate MOO dishwashing powder with a tablet once a week. Great Savings!
Contributed by Liane, Buderim

​Cleaning Glassware

Dishwashers can scratch glass and make it look cloudy. To remove build-up, give glasses a gentle rub with a pad dipped in white vinegar. For particularly tough stains try soaking in white vinegar. To avoid a cloudy build-up, wash glass by hand in warm, soapy water (never use very hot water as glass might crack), rinse thoroughly and dry immediately.
Contributed by Peter & Colleen Ruppert

​Give the Dishes a Cold Wash

Baking trays, casserole dishes and pots etc can be easily cleaned by soaking them in cold water(no soap needed). Instead of putting hot soapy water in your dirty baking dish, just fill it up with cold water and let it sit for about an hour. All the baked on potato and other veggies etc just slide off easily. I got this tip from my mother-in-law and was amazed that it actually does work!
Contributed by Barb, Newport

​Air Drying with the Dishwasher

If you can't turn off the drying cycle on your dishwasher automatically, use your oven timer to remind you to check, and turn the dishwasher off at the start of the dry cycle. I know mine takes 1hr 17min to wash and rinse on the normal cycle, and then 30mins dry. Train the kids in what to do too in case your outside when "time's up". 
Contributed by Karen, Queanbeyan

​Measure Detergent for Savings

Approximate $ Savings: $20-$30

I fill an old liquid hand wash dispenser with my dishwashing detergent. I know that five pumps of the dispenser gives me 10ml of dishwashing detergent, which is enough to do the dishes. I used to just squirt the dishwashing liquid into the sink and when I measured I was using up to 40ml. I buy my Morning Fresh detergent from Chemist Warehouse, 1.25L for $4.50. That makes each load of dishes 3.5 cents in detergent.
Contributed by Laura, San Souci

​Half a Tablet Cleans Dishes Just as Well

Approximate $ Savings: $5 or more weekly

The appliance service man told me that chemicals in dishwashing tablets can eat away at the pipes and seals inside the dishwasher. Using half a tablet, (you can cut or break most of them) saves expensive repair bills and halves the weekly cost. I use the quick cycle (15 minutes instead of 56 minutes) for all but the dirtiest washes and everything still comes out clean.
Contributed by Amanda, Wynyard

​Give Dishwasher Tablets a Miss

Approximate $ Savings: $100

Save on servicing and repairs fees for your dishwasher by not using dishwashing powder tablets. I recently had a dishwasher repair man come to fix my faulty dishwasher and he explained to me that I was damaging my dishwasher by using the powder tablets. They are not designed to use in everyday loads - they are specifically designed to use in full loads of very dirty dishes. Anything less than this will cause an excess of suds to generate which will damage the appliance and lead to expensive repair bills. Use plain dishwasher powder instead and also save money by not paying for the expensive tablets.
Contributed by Catherine, Semaphore Park

​Liquid Dishwasher Liquid

Approximate $ Savings: $9/month

Ingredients: 1/2 cup liquid Castile soap 1/2 cup water 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 3 drops tea tree oil 1/4 cup white vinegar

Method: Mix together all ingredients. Store in a squeeze bottle and use 1 tbsp in the rinse cycle and 1 tbsp in the automatic soap dispenser for normal wash. This is for a 12 place setting size dishwasher. If your dishwasher is larger you will need to adjust the amount you use.
Contributed by Catherine, Croydon

​The Bi-carb Dishwasher Solution

​Approximate $ Savings: $20/month

Instead of using expensive powders or tablets in your dishwasher add 2 tablespoons of bicarb soda to the detergent dispenser and fill the rinse aid compartment with vinegar. You will be amazed with the results. It's also better for your dishwasher as a lot of European appliances cannot cope with the chemicals in the tablets and end up with dreadful build-up. Bicarb soda alleviates this problem, avoiding costly repairs later.
Contributed by Carly, South Penrith

​If You Don't Like it in the Laundry, Try it in the Kitchen

I made a batch of laundry goop and my husband and I tried it out for a couple of weeks but I didn't like how it worked. Instead of throwing it away we now use it in the dishwasher. It works wonderfully. So now we have roughly 25 litres of dishwasher detergent, all because we couldn't waste it.
Contributed by Aleisha, Charleville

​Really Easy Way to Clean Tea Cups

Several months ago I was reading hints for getting a tea cup clean. I have found a really easy way by accident! I have started drinking 1-2 cups of Herbal tea a day, as part of a weight loss diet a couple of weeks ago, and gradually over this period, my cup "magically" became clean on it's own!! Dead Easy!!
Contributed by Carole, California Gully

​DIY Dishwasher Basket Repair

Approximate $ Savings: $35-$60+

​ I have just managed to save up to $60+ The plastic bottom pieces of my dishwasher basket were in a very bad state, damaged, split and large holes in every section. Shopping around I discovered that the basket I needed was firstly difficult to buy and secondly, finding a suitable one would cost upwards of $35(+ postage of $5-$10) and potentially $60 or more. It was then that my husband came up with the idea of simply cutting out some small, square lattice type plastic and using that to re-line the bottom of each section. We looked around the house but couldn't find anything suitable, so we purchased a small plastic cutlery holder, the type you use to drain dishes on the sink, which has the mesh sides and bottom at a cost of $2.99 and using Stanley knife cut them to size. Hubby added some plastic cable ties which we already had at home to secure the new plastic sheets in place securely. it works a treat - the water still flows through, but the plastic is strong enough to survive the heat of the dishwasher and my steak knives too.
Contributed by Bronwyn, Castle Hill

​This Dishwasher Detergent Substitute Works Really Well

Approximate $ Savings: $1 per wash

​I have discovered that a tablespoon of the old fashioned "Lectric" washing soda (calcium carbonate) works really well in the dishwasher instead of tablet or powder for washing, with vinegar for the rinse aide. I have used Sodium Bicarb with reasonable results, but the calcium Carbonate is much better. Really cheap too. I do have a good Meile dishwasher and I think that helps. I put everything in the dishwasher from bone china to greasy pots all with excellent results. The only thing I need to do is soak or scrub really baked on and hardened things. I also use this for machine clothes washing again with excellent results. It says on the pack to add it to regular powder but I just use it alone. It is also non toxic, unlike the other dishwasher powders. Sometimes it is a bit hard to find in the supermarket - IGA usually has it though. Here is the web address for more uses: www.lectric.com.au Hope this helps,
Contributed by Susan, Montrose

​ Website: www.lectric.com.au

​Decanting Dishwasher Powder Saves Money

Approximate $ Savings: About $15 per month if a load is done each day

I purchase dishwashing powder in bulk (I find Big W has the cheapest dishwashing powder), which is cheaper in the long run. To save on tipping out more powder than necessary I empty the powder into a clean, one litre yoghurt container and leave a teaspoon in the container. When it comes time to start the wash cycle I put two teaspoons of the powder from the yoghurt container into the dishwasher. I find this is enough to get the dishes clean. By doing this you avoid extra powder coming out of the original container which hubby, lids and myself had done too many times previously.
Contributed by Doris, Ballajura

​Sparkling Glassware

Dishwashers can scratch glass and make it look cloudy. To remove build-up, give glasses a gentle rub with a pad dipped in white vinegar. For particularly tough stains try soaking in white vinegar. To avoid a cloudy build-up, wash glass by hand in warm, soapy water (never use very hot water as glass might crack), rinse thoroughly and dry immediately.
Contributed by Colleen, Erskine Park

​Mix 'Em Up

After buying dishwashing powder from Aldi's, I was disappointed with its performance. Aldi has a return policy but we do not have a store in Wagga Wagga. Rather than give the powder away, I decided to mix it 50/50 with the dishwashing powder I prefer. The dishes come out sparkling. I also do this with my washing powder.
Contributed by Alanna, Wagga Wagga

Old Fashioned Fix-it for Cracked Crockery

If the glaze on your crockery has cracked and the staining has gone into the porcelain or stoneware, it is hard to deal with. This is an old way of fixing small cracks and discolourations. Boil the things in milk! Put the bowls or plates in a pan with sufficient milk to cover, bring to the boil and let it simmer for ten minutes. Cool in the milk. The calcium in the milk repairs and bleaches the china. If you keep an eye on the supermarket dairy case, you should be able to pick up short-dated milk with a discount sticker on the bottle. Try one piece of crockery first to see if it works. If you bring the pieces to the boil slowly and allow them to cool in the milk, they won't crack.
Contributed by Georgia, Keilor

​Rub Marks and Stains Away

I'm a ceramic artist and learned through my course, a long time ago that ceramics are effectively cleaned with something the Asian countries use called Vim, which is similar to what I use here in Australia, called Jif. Rub it into your crockery with a non scratch green and yellow sponge. You'll see all the marks disappearing soon, especially tea/coffee marks on ceramic mugs. Hope this does the trick.
Contributed by Jessie, Seven Hills

​Bag a Bargain on Dishes

Forget trying to clean old crockery: Glazed crockery is kiln fired in stacks; as a result the bottom of the plates, cups and saucers are unglazed (rub your finger round the bottom of a plate and see what I mean). Because hotels stack their dishes, after a while, the glazed top surface is marked by the abrasion of the unglazed plates placed above it. NOW THE GOOD PART: Because of this, hotels will REPLACE their crockery every few years, even if it has many years of domestic service life remaining. If you have a club, or a school, or a group of friends, consider approaching a hotel to ask if they would be willing to sell you their old crockery when next they recycle this. Maybe you will end up with 200 dinner plates, but you will never have to buy another.
Contributed by Charles, Claremont

​Give Your Dishes that Just Bought Look at Home

I used to own a restaurant and these are just two remedies that I used to give our dishes that "just-bought" look. 1. Try generic branded denture tablets dissolved in warm water. Fill a laundry tub, or sink, with warm-hot water, (not boiling), dissolve a packet or two of denture tablets, pop crockery in & soak for a minimum of 30 minutes. Test a piece after this time by washing as normal with a non-scratch sponge & detergent. I used to place plates in an old metal LP rack and old metal file holder that was being thrown out at an office I worked in before the restaurant. 2. Use plain old household bleach. Again fill a laundry tub or sink with hot water, add bleach and place your crockery in and soak for at least a couple of hours. Rinse and wash thoroughly. Remember, though, once you get your crockery looking new again, the way to retain that "just-bought" look is to ensure you rinse all traces of detergent thoroughly if hand-washing and buy yourself a plate divider to store plates, rather than stacking them on top of each other. You'll find that sometimes the dark marks aren't stains at all, but scratches caused by stacking plates on top of each other and these sometimes won't budge.
Contributed by Sally, Croydon North

​Lemon Magic

To clean up stained and marked dishes place boiling water with a cut up lemon into the bowls, mugs or cups - leave overnight. This should work. If not, then a mild solution of white king should do the trick.
Contributed by Eileen, Croydon

​Three Methods to Restore Stained Dishes

Make a paste of bicarb soda and water and rub this on the crockery leave a few minutes and continue working into the crockery and rinse well. May have to repeat if very long term. The other thing that works well is old fashioned GUMPTION paste from the supermarket (about $4 a tub) apply with a dampened only cloth work in well and rinse. I guarantee it will come out. Another method is to use ENZYME powder you use in your washing machine for clothes. Just use on a damp microfibre cloth and the stains will remove easily. Rinse well. I have used all these methods depending on what was at hand at the time, to restore very old crockery that belonged to my Mum.
Contributed by Rita, Bentleigh East

​Salt Scrubs the Stains Away

Cups used for say milk drinks and then for black tea always stain. A wash using a pinch or two of salt with a wet cloth will usually shift the stains but they will return with use.
Contributed by Neville, North Tambourine

​Soak and Wash to Remove Marks

To remove dark tea stains from crockery, soak in a diluted bleach solution. I make mine 50% bleach, 50% warm water. Then wash as normal. Repeat as required. This also restores my teaspoons to a nice shiny finish.
Contributed by Doris, Hallam

​Marks Easily Removed

Stains on the inside of cups and mugs are easily removed by rubbing with bicarb soda or salt on a damp cloth. Try this on your stained crockery. It is quick, cheap and environmentally friendly.
Contributed by Liz, South Penrith

​Get Some Gumption

We have found dishwashers not as good for these cleaning marks and stains off dishes. Try some Gumption , an excellent white paste that cleans all sorts of things like ceramics, your aluminium sink, etc without scratching. The generic versions are not as good but a little goes a long way so a tub lasts months! Hope it helps!
Contributed by Juliet, Cherrybrook

​Squirt the Stains Away

An easy way to rid stains on crockery is to squirt a small amount of bleach into the cup and fill with water. Let it stand for a short while then empty and wash as usual. It comes up very clean with ease.
Contributed by Jennifer, Wagga Wagga

​Soak and Wash as Usual to Clean Tea and Coffee Stains from Crockery

To clean the insides of my coffee mugs and tea cups, I find that adding a teaspoon of White King to the cup or mug and filling with hot water and leaving i to soak - overnight for the worst marks works wonders. I then tip it into the sink and use it in the washing-up water to give the rest of the dishes (and the sink), an extra good clean. Just make sure you rinse well after washing as usual. I do this on a regular basis with a lot of our older crockery. Regards
Contributed by Marita, Carrum Downs

​Clean Crockery with Bi-Carb, Sugar and Salt

For marks on crockery there are several ways that have worked for me. Soak in warm water and then rub with salt. This can also work with sugar. Or the best way is to make a paste with bi-carb of soda, leave on for about 30 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. If these don't work the stain is probably imbedded in the ceramics and might not be removable Good luck
Contributed by Lynne, Seaford

​An Overnight Soak for Bright, Clean Crockery

Your crockery can be soaked in pure bleach, preferably overnight. Or alternatively, dampen down and make paste of bicarbonate of soda and layer on with an old toothbrush, and leave for same time, then scrub with the toothbrush, rinse well.
Contributed by Lesley, Highbury

​A Sprinkle and a Gentle Rub Clean Stains Off

To clean stains of china and ceramic crockery and cups, wet the inside of the cup, then sprinkle a little bi-carb on the stain and rub gently with a sponge. This removes tea stains and the scratches left from stirring with stainless steel spoons.
Contributed by Sharon, Beaumont Hills

​Old Fashioned Stain Remover Works

Use carb soda (bicarbonate of soda) and water! Sprinkle some bi- carb soda in a stained cup or on a wet sponge and wipe around the crockery. It removes all sorts of stains from crockery.
​Contributed by Winsome, Hallam

​Soak the Stains Away

Just fill a bowl with bleach (no brand will do) and soak any crock/ceramic utensil in it and it comes out spotless. Never will any tea or coffee or other stains survive a good soaking.
​Contributed by Phyl, Morwell

​Cleaning Crockery Is Easy

Fill a bucket with water (warm or cold), add a dash or two of bleach. Place your crockery into the bucket overnight. In the morning I can assure you, without you having to scrub or wipe over, your crockery will be completely free of marks and perfectly clean.
Contributed by Loretta, Broadmeadows

​Bleach the Stains Away

Bleach is the best by far for cleaning crockery, but only if you are comfortable using it. ALWAYS use cold water and soak for an hour or so then place in the dishwasher for a really good wash/rinse cycle. If you are not comfortable using bleach denture powder works well, use something like Steradent. Another alternative (but this one takes much longer) is bicarb soda - make it into a paste and rub on. If time is valuable for you bleach is by far the quickest and while the crockery is soaking it will clean your sink like new. It even gives the drains a good clean as it goes down. Good luck !
Contributed by Julie, Seaford

​A Ten Minute Soak Cleans Up Stains

I use water and bleach to soak the crockery in for a about 10 minutes. It works like a dream to clean stains and leaves it shining and bright. As a bonus you can reuse the water/bleach mixture for many 'soaks'. Rinse well afterwards though!
Contributed by Carla, Wonthaggi

​Sounds Harsh But Bleach the Stains Away

I had a problem with stained and marked crockery. I use straight bleach to remove coffee and tea stains on my favourite cups. It only needs a few millilitres swirled around for a couple of minutes and they come up white again. Just rinse in water and rewash with detergent, repeat when necessary, every two to three months. Bleach is also great to wipe around the sink and gets rid of those grey/ brown stains that collect in and around the drain. Buy the no brand bleach. Same quality, less price.
Contributed by Victoria, Maddington

​A 50 - 50 Soak Cleans Up Stained Crockery

Have you tried soaking it in a bleach mixture? We clean bad stains off ceramic by soaking in 50% bleach and 50% water. You can also use straight bleach for very bad stains. If it was one of those black spots you find in Chinese white ceramic dishes, cups when you bought it etc. nothing will shift it to my knowledge.
Contributed by Julia, Milton

​Homemade Scrub Bud

When baking in the oven and covering baking dish or tray with aluminium foil, instead of discarding into the rubbish, put it to the side and use it crumbled up to scrub the baking dish or tray when finished. No need for steel wool.
Contributed by Tracey,. Kirrawee

​Dry Cleaning Dirty Pots

I dry clean all my dirty pots, pans etc with cheap plain flour. Flour is an excellent abrasive cleaner which absorbs moisture and grease allowing you to dispose of grease and grime in a dry form in your normal bin instead of using heaps of water to pre wash your dishes. You also use less detergent. Using flour is great for the environment and also supports your local wheat growing industry.
Contributed by Debbie, Mullaloo

​Expert Advice to Keep Dishwasher in Tip Top Shape

My dishwasher came with our apartment when it was bought over ten years ago. It hasn't had a repair until now. The dishwasher repair man said the pump broke because of a build up of soap and you don't need expensive cleaners like they advertise with finish brand to clean out the pipes. He recommended once every couple of months put white vinegar in the rinse cycle and do a full cycle with no dishes to clean out the pipes and residue. He also says you don't need rinse aid use vinegar again for the rinse cycle every wash. I tried it and it works ! I stopped using Homebrand powder because he told me they are mostly fillers rather than pure soap. I now use a more expensive kind but buy it in bulk at office works !
Contributed by Sonia, Surry Hills

​Sparkling Glassware

Approximate $ Savings: $4.59

Instead of using rinse aid in your dishwasher, use white vinegar instead. This will leave your glasses and dishes sparkling clean.
Contributed by Lisa, Goulbourn

​Lemon Power

To clean a stained kettle try cutting up one lemon and placing the cut lemon in the jug, top up with water to the high level and set to boil all stains will be removed and jug looks as good as new
Contributed by Smckay, Lower Mitcham

​Sterilizing Solution to Clean Stained Mugs

Approximate $ Savings: $2 This is more of a time saver than a money saver, but money can still be saved with what I do - Once I'm finished with my day's Milton (sterilizing solution for baby bottles etc) I pour it into stained coffee mugs and let it soak for about 15 mins. It cleans them back to white beautifully without scrubbing and isn't toxic like bleach might be, so even though I'm a busy mum with a small baby, my cups are always brilliantly clean, and I don't have to spend time making up a solution or money on bleach especially for the job.
Contributed by Sarah, Strathfield South

​Environmentally Friendly Automatic Dishwashing Powder

This isn't really cheaper than the stuff you buy, unless you get the expensive brands, but works heaps better and is very environmentally friendly. Take equal parts of baking soda and borax granules. Mix and add to the detergent compartment of the dishwasher instead of the commercial brand. It leaves your dishes shiny and clean without actually removing the enamel the way commercial cleaners do. It also leaves your dishwasher clean and smelling fresh. You don't need to use rinse aid as the borax leaves everything shiny.
Contributed by Silvia, Port Kennedy

​Easy Dishwasher Clean

Recently my dishwasher was spitting back that awful sandy grit back into my mugs and glasses. Ick! In an empty dishwasher I put a heaped half-cup of bicarb soda and ran a cycle on economy rinse. It worked! The month before I had tried the expensive brand 'dishwasher cleaner', harsh chemicals and not worth the money! It only took a couple of weeks and my dishwasher was back to gross. They recommend monthly wash with their product. Instead I buy a large box of bicarb and use fortnightly to monthly. It's fantastic and environmentally friendly. I am saving on monthly cleaners, chemicals and trade services.
Contributed by Melisa, Ringwood

​Alternative Dishwasher Detergent

Approximate $ Savings: $50 per annum

Bicarb soda works really well as a dishwasher detergent. Just fill the dispenser in your dishwasher as you would with a normal commercial detergent and run as normal. For ultra dirty pots and pans, you can always boost the cleaning power with a couple of teaspoons of commercial detergent added to the bottom of the dishwasher.
Contributed by Ruth, Box Hill South

​Keep Your Dishwasher Healthy

For dishwashers to keep them healthy every 6 months do a wash with CLR to clear away any calcium build up. This helps to keep dishwashers healthier
Contributed by Jo, Karrabin

​Stretching Dishwashing Liquid

If you wash dishes buy hand, make the dishwashing liquid last longer buy adding a few tablespoons of vinegar.
Contributed by Eugenie, Mooroolbark

​Steelo Substitute

Also if you run out of steel wool pads a scrunched up piece of alfoil will clean dirty saucepans/pans just as well.
Contributed by Cathy, Jannali

​Rinse Aid and Dishwasher Detergent

I use ordinary no name brand white vinegar in my dishwasher instead of rinse aid. It keeps the dishwasher clean, has a fresh smell and works like a charm. We cannot afford the dishwashing rinse aid or those tablets. We also use Eco Store plant based auto dishwasher powder which is friendly to the environment but chemical free and lasts with using the dishwasher every day (1 capful) about 2 months or more $10.95 from health food stores.
Contributed by Debbie, Currumbin Waters

​Cheap Dishwasher Detergent

​Have you run out of dishwasher detergent? Use 1 Tbsp. of bi-carb soda with 1 Tbsp. of borax. If you will be using this mixture on a regular basis, add vinegar to the rinse cycle every few loads.

Dishes & Your Dishwasher​

​To help with odours from your dishwasher, add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Is your dishwasher dirty and grimy? Make sure dishwasher is completely empty. Add "Tang" drink crystals (a powdered drink available at the supermarket) where you would normally place dishwasher detergent. Run with "light" cycle. Your dishwasher will be spotless! Do this about twice a year.