All about dishwashing

STEP 1: PRE-RINSE THE DISHES

Of course, if you have a dishwasher, you don't need to pre-rinse the dishes. But washing dishes by hand is done in a tub of water. So, naturally, if all the leftovers from your dishes are poking around in there right away, you'll never get a clean dish. Therefore, rinse all glasses and cups and remove the worst food residues from plates and pans with running water. You can also pre-soak pans while you are eating.

STEP 2: MAKE SOME SUDS AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT DISHWASHING BRUSH

Fill the sink or dishwashing tub with as hot water as possible - but not so hot that you can't put your hands in anymore, of course - and a few drops of washing-up liquid. Then you need the perfect dishwashing brush, because with a good one, washing up is a piece of cake. These are my favourite brushes:

For big dishes: the Smart Brush

If I could take one washing-up brush with me to a desert island, it would be the Smart Brush. In fact, this clever dishwashing brush can handle anything thanks to its different bristles. Strong bristles in the middle for pans and dishes, grey medium bristles for the rest and soft white bristles for delicate items. The fan shape also makes it really easy to clean cups and glasses, and there is even a scraper on the head for caked-on food residues. What more could you want?

For the glasses: the Glassware Brush

Well, okay, during a party, I prefer a dishwashing brush that can clean all the glasses in a flash so they can be refilled quickly. For that, I use the Glassware Brush. With this ball brush, you can clean glasses in next to no time. And thanks to the suction cup, you can also stick it in the sink to wash glasses even faster!

For quick dishes: the Dispensing Brush

Don't feel like (or have room for) a lot of washing up? Then the Dispensing Brush is your friend. This brush has a reservoir where you can put in soapy detergent, so you always have a dishwashing aid at hand. Just press the button and you can spread the suds perfectly over your dirty dishes. Ideal for camping, but also for those items you can't put in the dishwasher.

STEP 3: TIME TO WASH UP

Now that you've chosen the right brush and are ready with your pre-rinsed dishes, you can get started. But wait, make sure to use the right order! Start with your glasses to keep them grease-free and streak-free. This is when the water is cleanest and also remains the cleanest because glasses aren't usually greasy. Then it's time for the cutlery. After all, you put these in your mouth, so it's important that knives, forks and spoons are nice and clean. Next, it's time for all the cups, bowls and plates. This is because the grime left on these makes the water dirtier. And finally, it's the turn of the biggest dirties: pots, pans and baking trays.

STEP 4: RINSE OFF THE SUDS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DRYING AID

Of course, you don't want your next meal to taste like dish soap. If you have children or a partner who wants to give you a hand with drying, you can wipe the suds right off with the tea towel. Are you unfortunately working alone? Then you'll have to rinse off the suds under the tap to prevent them from drying on your clean dishes.

EXTRA STEP: HOW DO YOU CLEAN A WASHING-UP BRUSH?

Your washing-up brush helps you wash clean dishes, of course, but who washes the washing-up brush? If you have a dishwasher, cleaning your dishwashing brush is a breeze. Run the machine at 60 degrees with the brush in the cutlery tray. No dishwasher, or are you using a wooden dish brush? Then soak it for an hour in a mixture of 250ml white vinegar and a drop of dishwashing liquid. A quick rinse and it's ready for dishes again!