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The day after Christmas, I bought a new dishwasher. Yes, the old one died on Christmas Eve, but that’s a story for another day.
Little did I know when I purchased this beauty that I was beginning a lifelong relationship with rinse aid.
Plain white vinegar makes a very inexpensive and effective rinse aid and your glasses will still come out looking like these glasses on the right. This tip is pretty simple really. Just open the rinse aid dispenser and fill it with white vinegar instead of commercial Rinse Aid.
What rinse aid does
Dishwasher rinse aid is not about rinsing. It helps dishes dry faster.
When the dishwasher sprays the dishes with hot water in the final rinse cycle, the rinse aid stops the water from beading up and sticking to the dishes. Instead, it rolls off the dishes, off the sides of the tub, and down the drain.
But the chemicals that make rinse aid effective are deposited in minuscule amounts on our dishes. The rest of it splashes out into the environment. I found both of those thoughts unappealing, so I sought an alternative.
What an Expert Recommends
While Chan didnt advocate for vinegar as a rinse aid, he had other suggestions:
• If youre concerned about chemicals, you can adjust rinse aid to a very low level. Dial it down. If there are a lot of spots, you can dial it back up.
• Use a water softener. Some dishwashers even have them built in.
• Or, simply skip it. That isnt recommended, but if you do skip the rinse aid, the dishwasher may be able to deal. “Our dishwasher can detect if theres no rinse aid. It actually increases the temperature of the final rinse and makes the final rinse cycle longer,” Chan said.
Homemade Dishwasher Rinse Aid (takes one minute!)
FAQ
What is a substitute for rinse aid?
Can you use anything else for rinse aid?
Can I use water instead of rinse aid?
Can I run my dishwasher without rinse aid?
Can I use vinegar instead of rinse aid?
Citric acid, another common homemade dishwasher rinse aid, has the same mineral-removing effect. So vinegar isn’t an exact replacement for rinse aid because it doesn’t help with drying, but it does solve a potential side effect of water being left behind on your dishes. Would I use vinegar again?
Is it safe to put lemon rind in tea?
It is safe to put a lemon peel in tea. It is always necessary that the shell is well washed and added to a common tea with boiling water.
What is rinse aid?
Rinse aid is a standalone liquid product that is purchased separately from dishwasher detergent. Although many detergent packs contain a small amount of rinse aid, regular rinse aid should still be used to promote better drying.
Should you use a rinse aid in a dishwasher?
Always use a rinse aid when using a homemade dishwasher detergent. It will boost the cleaning power. Clean your dishwasher at least monthly for cleaner, spot-free dishes. Load the dishwasher correctly for cleaner dishes. Dishwasher rinse aids help prevent water spots and streaks on dishes.