carriede Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 We just bought a new dishwasher, and I want to make sure I'm using it properly for longevity's sake. So I know that rinse aid is supposed to help the water run off the dishes and not leave spots. But does rinse aid serve any purpose for the dishwasher itself? I've never used rinse aid in my old diahwasher... I didn't care about a few water spots. Just want to make sure I'm getting my moneys worth out of my new machine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I deliberately choose not to use it since I am concerned that it may leave a chemical residue but I am by no means an expert on this. I just pull the door open when the cycle is done so that the dishes dry well since in my simple understanding the rinse agent helps the dishes dry well in dishwashers with no heating element for drying dishes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimomma Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Yes! The rinse aid also rinses off the sensors. If the sensors get spotty or filmy, our dishwasher will not work properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Our dishwasher will not do a heated dry if there isn't rinse agent in the reservoir. Which is silly to me, because we use the tablets with rinse agent in them. So, we always have to make sure to have rinse agent in that holder if we want our dishes to be dried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I carefully used the rinse aid for about 2 bottles worth. But I noticed the bottle said it had way more washes than it did in reality. So I decided it was too expensive if I had to refill it way more often than advertised. I don't use it and don't notice a problem (other than the wash/dry cycle is about 20 minutes longer). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I use plain citric acid. It keeps the dishwasher really clean, too. You can buy Lemishine brand at Target, but I just bit bulk on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I don't use it. I didn't notice a difference. What makes a real difference is running some vinegar through periodically to keep the dishwasher clean. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Um_2_4 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I use plain citric acid. It keeps the dishwasher really clean, too. You can buy Lemishine brand at Target, but I just bit bulk on Amazon. So do you do this with every load or just once in a while? And if with every load, where do you put it? I don't see the powder going into my rinse dispenser. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 So do you do this with every load or just once in a while? And if with every load, where do you put it? I don't see the powder going into my rinse dispenser. Thanks It goes in one of the detergent dispensers and my dishwasher tab goes in the other. I do use it in every load. About 2 tsps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimomma Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I carefully used the rinse aid for about 2 bottles worth. But I noticed the bottle said it had way more washes than it did in reality. So I decided it was too expensive if I had to refill it way more often than advertised. I don't use it and don't notice a problem (other than the wash/dry cycle is about 20 minutes longer). I also noticed this when we first got our new dishwasher. I discovered after reading the instruction book carefully that there is an adjustment for the amount for rinse aid dispensed. The amount needed varies depending on the hardness of your water. We can get away with the lowest setting. Once I adjusted this, the bottle lasted as long as it said it would. I have a very very long discussion with the repair guy at our local independent appliance store. He has been fixing dishwashers for 40 years. I was replacing a dishwasher that stopped working well at about two years. We had been hobbling it along until it was simply not cleaning anything at age 7. I was disappointed that it was such a dud and was talking to this guy to find out how to not let that happen again. He said that the number one issue he sees with newer dishwashers in from gunked up sensors from not using rinse aid. The old dishwashers did not have sensors, they just had a determined cycle and did that every time so rinse aid only helped with spots on dishes. I never cared about spots so I never bought rinse aid. He did not get to look at my old dishwasher so could not say for sure that is what happened but the symptoms sounded right. I'd rather buy a few bottles of rinse aid a year rather than a new dishwasher every 5. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I use a mix of white vinegar/water as rinse aid & it seems to do the trick. Also, as mentioned, there is often a setting or adjustment you can make so you can have the minimum needed amount of rinse aid dispensed each load. I think, by default, ours was set for the highest setting when we first bought it. Our rinse aid goes in a separate reservoir beside where you put the detergent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks everyone. Our new one had sensors whereas our old one did not... so I guess I'll do the rinse aid! FWIW, I read some stuff online that vinegar might degrade the seals/gasket on the rinse aid dispenser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth78 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 We have hard water so I use a rinse aide/soap booster by OxyClean. I fill the rinse dispenser as needed and put a small squirt in the bottom of the dishwasher every load. If I don't I have filmy dishes that are not completely clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 We just bought a new dishwasher, and I want to make sure I'm using it properly for longevity's sake. So I know that rinse aid is supposed to help the water run off the dishes and not leave spots. But does rinse aid serve any purpose for the dishwasher itself? I've never used rinse aid in my old diahwasher... I didn't care about a few water spots. Just want to make sure I'm getting my moneys worth out of my new machine! I don't use it. I do, however, use Amway's automatic dishwasher detergent exclusively, which I believe contributes not only to my sparkly dishes but also to a 10yo dishwasher which looks as good on the inside as it did when I bought it. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Does anyone think that the rinse aide leaves a chemical residue on the dishes? I am curious about this since the thought of a possible chemical residue is unappealing to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Does anyone think that the rinse aide leaves a chemical residue on the dishes? I am curious about this since the thought of a possible chemical residue is unappealing to me. No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5of5 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Does anyone think that the rinse aide leaves a chemical residue on the dishes? I am curious about this since the thought of a possible chemical residue is unappealing to me. I haven't researched it, but it seems counter-intuitive to me. It's supposed to prevent residue, so leaving itself as a residue strikes me as odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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