It may sound strange, but washing machines and dishwashers need to be as clean as the items they themselves wash. In fact...the cleaner they are, the better they will wash clothes and dishes. In fact, cleaning our "washing machines" not only prevents the formation of limescale by extending their useful life, but also serves to prevent bad odors, black stains and to prevent the formation of bacteria and mold. Let's start with the dishwasher. In theory, our dishwasher should constantly clean itself, but unfortunately, it doesn't. Over time, bits of food, grease, undissolved detergent and mineral residue from the water build up on the dishwasher's filter and interior walls. But we can take action. What do we need?Vinegar, Citric acid, baking soda, cellulose sponge or microfiber cloth and an old toothbrush ... and a little patience. When to do it? Daily: Remove residual food pieces Weekly: Clean the dishwasher door, gasket and filter Monthly: Clean the inside thoroughly As needed: Clean the outside and polish How to do it. Step 1: Remove the filter, utensil holders and baskets from the dishwasher. Remove them and place them in a mixture of warm water and 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes. Step 2: Clean the sprayers and side walls, especially in the corners. Check the filter and spout of the dishwasher and look inside all the small holes and crevices from which water is leaking. If you see food particles or other debris stuck in small crevices use an old toothbrush to clean them out. Wipe off any debris or stains that have been deposited on the inside surface of the door, door edges, handle or dishwasher controls with a damp cloth or sponge. Step 3: clean the inside of the dishwasher. You can use several methods: with vinegar: pour a liter of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher and run the dishwasher through a full cycle. Vinegar is an excellent degreaser and eliminates odors. Do not overdo the washing with vinegar in order to avoid damaging the seals in the long run. with baking soda and vinegar: after running the vinegar cycle, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the empty dishwasher, and run a short hot cycle with citric acidcitric acid citric acid degreases deeply, is a very powerful anti-scale and has a disinfecting action on germs and bacteria. Insert a dose directly into the bottom of the dishwasher and start an empty program without pre-washing at high temperatures. Ideal once a month.Citric acid diluted in water and placed in the rinse aid tray makes the dishes shiny and bright. Finally, if you want to use your dishwasher in a sustainable way, always remember to: run your dishwasher with a full load use the eco program use ecological and biodegradable dishwasher detergents. Let's move on to the washing machine. Over time, washing machines get dirty, suds from detergents and water build up, and limescale damages them. If you think about it, the washing machine is constantly bombarded with food debris, fibers and other organic materials that can get caught in corners and crevices. In addition, the humid and hot environment inside the washing machine is a perfect breeding ground for mold. All of this can cause laundry to not turn out perfectly. Learning how to clean your washing machine is essential to keeping odors, mold and dirt at bay. What do we need? Vinegar, Baking soda, Citric acid, cellulose sponge or microfiber cloth and an old toothbrush When to do it? Ideally once a month. How to do it? Step 1: Start by cleaning the corners and crevices on the outside of the basket, if possible remove the removable parts and let them soak in a vinegar water solution (2 parts water and 1 part vinegar for at least 30 minutes). Step 2Clean the rubber gasket of the basket using an old toothbrush. If you see mold or mildew in this area, use a rag or brush previously soaked in a solution of water and baking soda. Step 3: Again, there are several methods you can employ: Vinegar: Pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent tub and run a long cycle on empty Baking soda: Add half a cup of baking soda directly into the basket and run a normal cycle without laundry. Citric Acid: We learned a little while ago about the amazing qualities of citric acid. Simply place a dose in the basket of the washing machine start an empty program without pre-washing at high temperatures. Sodium percarbonateSodium percarbonate is an ecological whitener that carries out simultaneously a detergent action, sanitizing, whitening and helps the removal of stains thanks to the oxygen released in contact with water and sodium carbonate. Precisely because of these properties it is a very useful ally for the care of the washing machine. Add the dose directly into the empty drum and start a wash at 60°, without pre-washing. One last piece of advice: always leave the door open and let the washing machine dry, in this way you will avoid the formation of mold. And remember to always try to use the washing machine only if really necessary, at low temperature and using detergents low impact detergents. References: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-washing-machine-with-vinegar https://www.organized-home.com/posts/domestic-science-how-to-clean-a-washing-machine/ https://www.tuttogreen.it/pulizia-lavastoviglie-in-modo-naturale/ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher/
