Dishwashers: the perfect cleaning frequency for never having bad smells again!
It's the best friend of evenings with friends and Sundays with the family. It saves the day after a big dinner, but we tend to neglect it.
Inside, it's a bit of a residue-fest: stuck crumbs, congealed grease and tartar build-up. If you start to smell a little suspect when you open it, or if your glasses come out with white streaks, it's already too late. So how often do you really need to give it a good clean?
The ideal timetable for a top dishwasher
To prevent your machine from overheating, you need to think of maintenance as a little routine, a bit like taking care of your favorite knives. You don't have to spend all Sunday on it, but regularity is the secret to prolonging its life and, above all, not consuming more energy than necessary.
- After each cycle: a quick look. Hasn't a piece of salad made its way to the bottom? A two-second glance can save a lot of trouble.
- Weekly: Time to take care of the tank filter. It collects everything. Just unscrew it, run it under hot water with a little washing-up liquid, and off you go again.
- Once a month : It's the big meeting. We take care of the door seals (where mildew loves to hide) and run an empty cycle with a descaling product or, even better, our trusty white vinegar.
Why the filter is your worst enemy (if it's dirty)
If you had to remember just one thing, it's this: the filter is the heart of your machine. When it's clogged, the water doesn't circulate as well, it's less well filtered and, inevitably, your dishes are washed with water that's... well, not very clean.
Once a week, get into the habit of taking it out. You'll be surprised (and a little disgusted, we're not going to lie) to see what gets into it. A clean filter means your dishes come out without a trace of stuck-on food. It's quick and easy, and makes all the difference to the end result!
The white vinegar trick for deep cleaning
Once a month, we take it to the next level. No need to spend a fortune on "special machine" products. The experts' secret is white vinegar. Pour a large bowl of it directly into the tank, or place the upright bowl in the upper basket, and run a high-temperature program (at least 140°F/60°C) on empty.
The acidity of the vinegar will dissolve the limescale deposits clogging the little holes in the spray arms. It's formidable! Your machine will come out shiny, limescale-free and, above all, odor-free. It's the perfect way to restore your dishwasher to its original glory, without polluting the planet.
Don't forget the spray arms!
We rarely think about it, but the small holes in the rotating arms can become clogged with lemon pips or small grains of rice. If the water no longer comes out properly, the top dishes will remain dirty. Every two or three months, unclip the arms and check that nothing is blocking them. Just poke the holes with a toothpick, give it a quick rinse, and you'll see that your machine will make much less noise and be much more efficient.
In short, a clean machine for sparkling dishes
Taking care of your dishwasher means ensuring that your plates and cutlery are truly spotless. By sticking to this simple schedule - weekly filter cleaning and monthly descaling - you can avoid breakdowns and unpleasant odors.
So, when was the last time you cleaned your filter? Now's the time to get on with it, so that your next batch of dishes really is perfect!
Adèle Peyches
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