Do you use a Rinse Aid?

[mich]

This is a question, I've been meaning to ask, and I feel like should be brought up. And, I ask this because, as I venture through supermarket aisles, and read detergent boxes and ingredient listings, I'm noticing more & more detergents now are "all in one" or "contain shine boosters" or rinse aid built in. 

 

Personally, I believe the original purpose of rinse aid, was to prevent water spotting in rinse cycles, however, with newer dishwashers the purpose is to help assist with sheeting water of plates (so they dry faster, and don't use as much energy). But, more & more detergents, are now better formulated to give spotless dishes, so the original purpose, really isn't needed.

 

Out of just pure curiosity, I went into the settings of my Bosch DW, and turned of the rinse aid, and ran it with a Finish Power-Ball Tablet. When I opened the machine this morning, everything was just as dry, and sparkling as if the rinse aid was in there. 

 

I couldn't believe it. Mostly because, the dishes actually seemed just as dry, even the plastics. I honestly, would have expected these good results with the Finish Quantum, but definitely not with the Bargain Priced Powerball Tabs, I'm just amazed. 

 

So.. Fellow Members? Do you use a rinse aid, or do you do without? Can you tell the difference? I just wanna hear what everyones experiences are

 

[kenmoreguy89]

All in one is BS!

 

[DADoES]

 
Rinse aid, yes.  I think all-in-one detergents are a crock for rinse aid purposes, being that the detergent is down the drain two or three water changes past when the final rinse comes around, which is when rinse aid is dispensed.

Water sheeting for drying purposes is the same function as warding off water spots.

Yes, I can tell the difference in drying performance if the dispenser runs empty.  My well water is moderately hard (9-ish grains) and my dishwasher does not have a drying heater.

 

[mich]

Freddy..

The only thing I noticed differently, was the (manual) filter itself, didn't seem as clean. And there were a few random spots throughout the tub. The dishes didn't look any cleaner or dirtier than without the rinse aid. 

 

I was quite impressed. Although, my water may be a little too soft, to give a good enough test. 

 

[kenmoreguy89]

I do not know a person that can actually do less of rinse aid etc...because of these "all in one"...
You need anyway to use it and all the rest.....
It's same story of detergents that claimed having softeners in it like Bold, Bolt etc....

 

[aamassther]

Rinse aid, yes. Helps dishes dry better, especially true when I had a Bosch dw.
Having moved from a hard water area to the mountains, where water is as soft as mechanically softened water. I would caution you against using tabs, it's just too much soap. I had suds issues with every tab I've used, especially the Quantums. I've had decent luck with OxiClean, cascade complete and Somat powders. Especially Somat, phosphates rock! I haven't had any problems with etching, I watch the dosage, I tbl max.
I used the jet dry turbo in the Bosch, with good results. Miele is my favourite one though, everything dry and spot and residue free. I tend to like the clear ones, so haven't tried regular jet dry in awhile.

 

[whirlpolf]

yes AND no, both.

Rinse aid is nice if you do not want to bother about wiping dry.

Other than that I have no use for rinse aid whatsoever as regular cucumber vinegar will do just the same thing. Pricewise they may well be the same, production wise I guess that vinegar may be a bit more harmless.

Bad about rinse aid: That terrible "squeeky" dishwasher feeling about the tableware, this rubbery and sticky vinyl touch to what was china before (personally I find it quite repelling, feels like squeezing small baking soda pouches or like chewing aluminum foil with your teeth or like using cosmetic cotton balls on skin - HIGHLY repelling to me (just a personal view).

I prefer dishes to be clean, not to be plastic-coated.

So:
Whether I take some 2-3 minutes to soak up the water dips of mugs and cups (they have this little dip of residue water in their bottom rims) so between wash/rinse and drying cycle I just dip the water up and leave the door ajar - or whether I take some more 5 minutes to wipe all of the dishes dry: Not much of a difference.
(Currently working in the catering business, so I am used to wiping steaming hot tableware dry: Hottest wash, hottest rinse, no drying cycle = Hobart continous DW).

Yet some good rinse aids kill that typical "dishwashing smell", surrounding dishes with this "boiling up to steam" smell, that is what I like.

 

[foraloysius]

I use all in one Somat tablets (10 in 1) and I'm quite happy with the results. I don't use rinse aid anymore.

 

[retromania]

Rinse Aid

I always used original Cascade and Jet Dry that was packaged in a little plastic basket that you attached to the top rack. I still think that was the best I ever had it as far as rinse aids. When I could no longer find Jet Dry in the basket I started using Cascade rinse aid and I would put it in my dishwasher dispenser. I did not get as good results with that. Then I started using the Cascade Complete tabs that have everything in one. That worked pretty well. Then I got the idea to use the Cascade tabs and the rinse aid in the door. Now the dishes are coming out more like when I used Cascade powder and the hanging rinse aid. Another thing I have started doing is I toss the Cascade tab into the bottom of the wash tub. I don't fool with the detergent dispenser anymore. Our water is so soft where I live that the dishes need all the rinsing they can get.

 

[jakeseacrest]

The Target near my house has trial sized rinse aid for $1 so I usually pick one up every so often.

 

[mrb627]

Miele

When I change the detergent type from powder to tablet in my Miele settings, the rinse aid dispenser is disabled. I haven't filled it in almost a year. The tabs with the power-ball work flawlessly without it.

Malcolm

 

[washer111]

I've found with the Fairy tablets a difference in the "shine" from tableware washed with it - since I keep the Rinse-Aid setting quite low, there is a noticeable difference. 

 

Personally, the rinse-aid on the DishDrawer is kept on minimum, and sometimes even refilled with water. We have soft water, and flash drying the dishes still works.

I *might* turn that up if I think the machine won't remove yibblets from the plates, but that usually isn't the case, so I don't bother!

 

For those who mention not suing their detergent dispensers, do be careful that you aren't using the tablet in the short Pre-Wash phase - since you are wasting quite a bit of detergent in doing so - then wasting 20 minutes or so in the Main-Wash heating somewhat mucky what. 

 

[gmmcnair]

I dutifully fill my rinse aid dispenser. I use the Cascade Complete, but I can definitely tell a difference with my dishwasher.

 

[ozzie908]

I use both rinse aid and salt

the water here is so hard it comes out fighting and to prevent drying issues as the dishdrawer only dries with residual heat it needs help and I have noticed a difference when the rinse aid has run out things seem to be streaky and blotched.
As I tend to buy rinse aid and salt from Aldi or Lidl its about £1.99 for very large bottle that lasts so long I forget when I bought it.

Austin

 

[omono]

yes and no

I stopped using commercial rinse aid years ago , now I just fill the dispenser with white vinegar . It works just fine .

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Finish/ Jet Dry user here

Along with Inst. Cascade or Bubble Bandit. Commercial detergents typically do not contain rinse aid so a separate one is needed.
WK78

 

[toploader55]

Wave Jet

Bubble Bandit and Wave Jet.

That's all I use. And even if the Rinse Dispenser runs dry, I do not wince at a spot here or there.

 

[whirlcool]

We haven't used a rinse aid in a few years. We are now using Aldi's Reeva (Cascade Complete equiv) and all things come out clean with no spotting at all.

 

[jerrod6]

All in one DW detergents in the USA.

Used to be that Electrasol tabs  said it contained rinse Aid.  Then Electrasol became Finish and then Finish tabs with rinse aid.  Then All of the Finish tab line became Finish with Jet dry shine.  If you look at the box of the all-in one tabs there is nothing that says it contains rinse aid. There is nothing on the box of Finish quantum that says it contains rinse Aid.  There is nothing on Cascade Platinum Pacs that says it contains rinse aid only that it helps prevent spots.

 

But on most containers it advises you to use rinse aid for best results.

 

Somat 5 which is the only version that seems to be available to the USA says it contains rinse aid.

 

I use Finish powerballs and Quantum with my rinse aid setting set to 2 for 2 ml and my detergent selector set to Normal. 

 

I tried Somat 5 and set my detergent selector to tabs  with rinse aid.  The Dw changed the cycle so that the drying period lasted longer however it still dispensed 1ml of rinseaid.  Everything was dry, but the DW also modified the drying time and who knows what else, perhaps the final rinse temperature.  I would imagine if you did not fill the rinseaid resovoir it would just go through the motions but dispense nothing.

 

So it seems that in the USA there is no detergent claiming to contain rinse aid - just rinse aid shine - whatever that is.  No because the manufactureres want you to buy separate rinse aid.