Sure, your dishwasher makes quick work of dirty plates and cups. But lots of other stuff will get squeaky-clean in there, too.

It's amazing how much brighter a room will look after this cleaning task is checked off your to-do list. Run these through your top shelf with a space in between and voila! Do not wash antique or hand-painted globes or those with gold-leaf trim in the dishwasher.

If your shower head is spraying sporadically from clogged holes or your faucet handles aren't as shiny as they used to be, place these on the top rack and run the pots and pans cycle. It's fine to run cookware through at the same time, so you're not wasting a wash for these few items.

These personal care items get coated with hair products, and get clean up to perfection in the dishwasher. Remove all strands of hair, then corral everything in a mesh lingerie bag or dishwasher basket on the top rack. Run a normal cycle. Note: wood-handled or natural bristle brushes should not be put in dishwasher because the water and heat can damage them.

Have you got a sweaty hat at home that needs a good wash? Say goodbye to the washing machine and hello to the dishwasher. Put hats on the top rack, head opening down, on a separate wash cycle from dishes because you can't use dishwasher detergent (many contain bleaching agents). Place the hat over a jar or on an outside rack to dry.

Small plastic items such as baby toys, teethers and action figures can get funky pretty fast. Toss them in a mesh bag or dishwasher basket and place on the top rack. You can wash these on a normal cycle.

HOW TO: Christmas candy canes

It's generally fine to load these with other dishes. Most dishwasher-safe toys are labeled accordingly on the package or manufacturer's website. However, if you're not sure whether the material will hold up in the dishwasher, just to be safe, you can also soak toys in 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, and rinse well. Rope toys and rawhide chews can't be cleaned; toss when icky.

Load these up at the same time you do the regular dishes. The top rack is usually the best place so you can stand them up or wedge between other items. Run through on a normal cycle.

Once a week, load all of these into the dishwasher to make the whole kitchen seem shinier: chrome drip pans, enamel-coated gas grates and burner caps, fridge water dispenser grate, sink plugs, microwave tray and range hood grease filters. Use the normal washing cycle.

We handle all these things everyday which means they collect lots of grease and grime, so why not put them in the dishwasher. Make sure they are all empty and put in with a regular load.

Toothbrushes, toothbrush holders, goopy soap dishes, nail brushes, plastic makeup brushes and bathtub drain plugs all benefit from an occasional run through the dishwasher. Place on the top rack with smaller items tucked in a dishwasher basket, and wash on a normal cycle with your other dishes.