topic Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers in Home

Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

pattypeep — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:08:30 GMT

I use one that is for that purpose; however, someone told me a few weeks ago that white vinegar works just as well. Does anyone use vinegar in place of the commercial rinse aids? TIA

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

fthunt — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:27:42 GMT

No - and never will.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

pattypeep — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:31:28 GMT

@fthunt Do you have reason to believe that it is harmful?

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:44:31 GMT

I found this info online. Vinegar is a strong enough acid to melt the rubber gaskets in the rinse-aid dispenser. Bad. Some people suggest running a rinse cycle with the vinegar in a cup on the top rack, and this tactic can work. It is a bit of a pain, since you need to stop your dishwasher and put the cup in just before the rinse cycle. It also doesn’t work as well as rinse aid.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

VirgoGirl — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:44:42 GMT

I use Jet Dry in the rinse aid dispenser but occasionally do a vinegar clean using the quick wash cycle.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

Daysdee — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:02:24 GMT

@VirgoGirl wrote:
I use Jet Dry in the rinse aid dispenser but occasionally do a vinegar clean using the quick wash cycle.

Same here. I think the vinegar clean is for actually cleaning the dishwasher and is not taking the place of a rinse aid. For rinse aid I use Jet Dry or Cascade.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

pattypeep — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:39:08 GMT

@Nightowlz Thank you. Very good information.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

faeriemoon — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 20:36:04 GMT

I've posted this before, but one of my pet peeves is when trying to fill that stupid dispenser in the door, there is a bubble extravaganza that makes me crazy. Ergo I don't fill the thing as often as I should.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

SilleeMee — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 20:42:24 GMT

I believe the reports of vinegar harming gaskets or seals in dishwashers is all speculative and most likely written to steer you into buying a rinse aids like Jet Dry or whatever. Vinegar is acetic acid in a weak concentration and is too weak to cause harm. Go ahead and use vinegar! It's harmless and doesn't have the chemicals found in those rinse aids. Add a few drops of food coloring to it so you know when it gets too low.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

kze — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 21:16:37 GMT

The maintenaince man in my apartment complex recommended it. He said it keeps the hoses clean, preventing damage, and prevents hard water spots. Don't put it in the dispenser. Before starting dishwasher, toss about a 1/4 cup in bottom of washer.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

Kachina624 — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 04:05:20 GMT

I lived in the Permian Basin of West Texas where the water is so bad it's undrinkable. I never heard anyone suggest Jet Dry had any effect on the poor water quality. It just seems to cause the water to sheet so there are no spots. We all used powdered citric acid in each dishwasher load to counteract the hard water. We bought it at grocery stores and Walmart. The water still etched all my glasses do they looked like milk glass. When I moved, I put them all in a dumpster and bought new. We used RO water at the kitchen faucet for drinking.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

Katrin B — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 14:47:37 GMT

I have been using white vinegar in the Rins Aid tank of my dishwasher for years without a problem. It works just fine, not as good as JetDry, but w/o the chemicals and scent.

I also use a biodegradable detergent, sometimes powder, sometimes pods.

The liquid detergents tend to have fragrance.

BTW dishes and glasses don't smell or taste of vinegar.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

Tuppermore — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 14:56:46 GMT

I was not very happy with my new dishwasher because of how wet the dishes were after being washed. I never use the heated dry cycle. My daughter -in-law told me that the new dish washers need to have a rinse agent added in order for the dishes to come out dryer. She was right. Ever since I started using a rinse agent, my dishes are much dryer. If the dispenser runs out, I can immediately tell because of how much water sits on the dishes. I never used a rinse agent in my dishewasher years ago because our water was not a problem and it didn't make a difference in how wet or dry the dishes were. It seems it does now.

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

jlkz — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:33:30 GMT

@faeriemoon wrote:
I've posted this before, but one of my pet peeves is when trying to fill that stupid dispenser in the door, there is a bubble extravaganza that makes me crazy. Ergo I don't fill the thing as often as I should.

Try using a small ( we use a flexible type) funnel to eliminate the " bubble. "

Re: Rinse Aid For Dishwashers

panda1234 — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:55:51 GMT

I have been using vinegar for the past 3 years....no problem. The rinse aid sold in the store are very strong also.