Nothing Beats a Parts Washer

I would love to have access to an industrial parts washer. Lacking that, though, I try to make use of my dishwasher. A dishwasher is almost always the most convenient way to clean something--as opposed to manually scrubbing. But if the something in question has lots of acute angles and recessed areas--as so many molded plastic parts do--the dishwasher is more than a convenience, it is the best way to get the job done.

So my wish is that manufactured items would be designed to be dishwasher-friendly. For instance, my microwave has a grille for the air intake. Pretty standard stuff. Unsurprisingly, it collects a lot of grease, and needs to be rinsed and scrubbed at least quarterly. More often would be better, but it is such a nuisance, it has to get to the point where it is very noticeable before we tackle the chore.

The problem is that it runs the length of the over-stove microwave, so is too long to fit in the dishwasher. But if it were of two-piece construction, instead, it would easily fit in the dishwasher. We would probably wash it every week, and it would be almost effortless!