This kitchen helper must also be looked after and cleaned from time to time.  This is how I suggest to do it.

I must admit that I did not pay attention to the maintenance of my dishwasher. But when I realized that it was used to clean our plates and cutlery ,  it became clear that the cleaning and hygiene is worth the trouble. The machine must always be empty for cleaning.

These are the three steps of the cleaning process:

First you need:
Dishwasher filter
cutlery basket
2 cups of vinegar

Fill your sink with lukewarm water and add the 2 cups of vinegar. Place the filter and cutlery basket in it and clean the two containers with a brush or sponge. Then let it soak while you carry out the second step.

For the second step you need:
2 tablespoons of citric acid in powder form
water
household gloves

In a cup half-filled with hot water, dissolve 2 tablespoons of citric acid powder. With a wet sponge wipe the insides of the dishwasher, the floor, the inside of the door and the spray arms. Don’t forget the door seal. Use hosehold gloves for this part, citric powder is agressive to your skin.

For the third step you need:
200 ml vinegar
5 tablespoons of bicarbonade of soda (baking soda)

Put the vinegar in the powder compartment and close it. Distribute the 5 tablespoons of bicarbonade of soda (baking soda) in the machine. Then reinstall the filter and the cutlery basket and let the machine run empty with a hot program.

That’s it!

Good to know:
The dishwasher is a big helper in our everyday life. This is why I clean it every few weeks. I usually find out when a cleaning job is due. It is the dishes don’t come aout clean anymore after washing.

Limescale deposits due to the rinsing water. These deposits not only reduce the cleaning power but also damage the device. Furthermore, they form the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. In addition to lime deposits, grease and food residues also accumulate on the machine, clogging the screen and rinsing arms.

Old fashioned household remedies such as sodium bicarbonate, vinegar and citric acid are sufficient to keep the machine free of lime, bacteria and fungi.

When combined with vinegar, natron works wonders in the fight against fungi, bacteria and bad smells.  It is important that the citric acid and bicarbonade of soda are not used at the same time. So put the vinegar in the powder compartment and the bicarbonade of soda in the machine. By the time the powder compartment opens, the sodium bicarbonate has already been mixed with rinsing water.

For your own protection, always wear household gloves and protective goggles when cleaning with citric acid.