Life Hack: Seven things you might not realise are easy to clean in a dishwasher

From extractor fan filters to light shades, save time and effort by popping these items into the dishwasher

Plastic toys are some of the items you can safely clean in a dishwasher. Picture: iStock

Cooker supports 

I was chatting to a friend recently about how I wash the metal supports on my hob — the bits the pots and pans sit upon — in the dishwasher without issue and we were both taken aback: he never knew that was an option and I never knew it was not common knowledge. If your hob has enamel-coated supports you can pop those into the dishwasher but if they are cast iron you should continue to clean those by hand.