Do you use a Rinse Aid?

[frigilux]

I use JetDry rinse aid in my GE dishwasher. I've left the dispenser empty several times and noticed more spotting on silverware; otherwise, not a huge difference. Let it be noted that I have a water softener, so the water is super-soft, and I use Cascade Platinum Pacs which claim built-in rinse-aid action.

I've always used a rinse aid and probably always will. Habit.

 

[combo52]

Rinse Aid

No, I have used it when samples fall into my hands but it makes very little difference.

Every morning when I unload one of the WP DWs I am always impressed with how nice the glassware looks and how dry everything is, in spite of using no RA and also using air-dry and leaving the DW door closed all night.

To me RA is just one more thing to buy, that and the associated waste of energy from packaging, shipping and water pollution from its use, it just seems unnecessary to me. I also dislike the idea of ingesting something that warns you on the bottle not to ingest, by having a coating of it dried all over your dishes.

 

[tennblondie78]

I use Bubble Bandit and Lemi Shine rinse aid. I can definitely tell a difference in the number of spots.

 

[jerrod6]

Probably  results will vary based on water conditions.

 

[retromania]

White vinegar!

Oh really? I will have to try that. Thanks.

 

[whirlcool]

I also dislike the idea of ingesting something that warns you on the bottle not to ingest, by having a coating of it dried all over your dishes.

You got that right! I hate it when you put water in a glass and it foams up at the top.

 

[launderess]

Ever Since Cascade with "Sheeting Action"

Most if not all better automatic dishwashing detergents contain some sort of substance (usually surfactants) to cause water to fall as sheets onto dishes instead of droplets. This in theory lessens the chances of spots and so forth forming upon drying.

Rinse agents are mainly a mixture of surfactants and alcohols designed to not only prevent aforementioned spotting but assist with the process of drying, especially convection. The later became more important with the push to conserve energy began a trend in American manufacturers offing "energy saving" dry settings for dishwashers that turned off heating elements.

Vinegar is a mild acid and as such will remove to an extent mineral deposits and so forth from dishes giving them a "gloss", but it does nothing in of itself to promote faster drying and or prevent spots. If you live in a soft water area and or aren't bothered by spots and or possibility of yibbles sticking onto dishes after the last rinse, suppose vinegar is "ok". You'll notice few if any "natural" rinse agents use the stuff on it's own. Ecover's "green" rinse agent is heavy on "naturally derived" alcohols but tried a bottle and wasn't impressed.

Again no one needs rinse agents, they just give better performance in most dishwashers with results most households desire. Again if you aren't bothered by spots, yibbles, and or are the kind of girl or guy that likes polishing dishes (especially glassware) with a tea towel after unloading the dw, then by all means knock yourselves out. *LOL*

 

[launderess]

1960's version of Cascade Spotlessness

Only back then it was called "Chlorosheen"

 

[launderess]

Hot (very) Water, Chlorine, & Powerful Spray Arms

Not a whiff of an enzyme but Cascade with "sheeting action" got dishes clean and spotless.

More and more you come to realize for P&G Cascade was to automatic dishwashing what Tide was to laundry.

 

[mich]

Now that I think about it...

I have noticed, that light suds, will sometimes come out of nowhere, when filling things with water. I've never been able to taste anything though, or notice any streaking. 

 

 

I'm gonna go ahead and turn on the rinse aid dispenser back on, in the Bosch. Although, I'm gonna keep it at the minimum setting, which is probably about the right amount anyway, considering our water isn't hard. 

 

It's quite intresting seeing all the responces. I'm sure we could all get away without it, but, I probably do need it since my machine works exclusivly of condensing drying. 

 

[washer111]

*Oooh*

In case you have trouble with the "Wipe 'n' Wash" on your car leaving streaks and not drying quickly enough for your taste, here's my solution:

 

Add some Rinse-Agent into the Wipe/Wash fluid container! Then, you get a clean, shiny windshield that dries very quickly and doesn't streak badly or leave soap-suds on your paintwork.

 

Use it on my car, and have been thoroughly impressed with the results. Also doesn't make the soap scum that wrecks the fluid pump (Which, if you go OEM, is about $70 to replace!)
Adding vinegar would be the ultimate cure if you refill with hard water - though I used Demineralised Water to be safe!

 

[launderess]

No Rinse Aid

Many places that deal in/serve fine wine and or those that do in domestic settings either wash wine glasses manually or use a glass/dishwasher totally unknown to rinse agents. Apparently there is a feeling residue (if any) from rinse agents can affect the taste of fine wine.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

We NEED Rinse Dry,

In the DW @ the prison. When certain staff let it run out the trays do not dry properly as our dishmachine has no blower dryer. There is no other way to make the trays dry.
WK78

 

[whirlcool]

Our Maytag DW manual states that a rinse aid should be used to ensure plastic items dry properly before the end of the cycle. For awhile there was that JetDry Turbo that indicated it helped plastics dry faster. I haven't seen it in awhile. But we don't worry as we have very few pieces of plastic ware anywhere in our kitchen. Everything is glass, stoneware or ceramic.

 

[mrboilwash]

I use rinse aid at the minimum setting along with All-in-one tabs.
Actually the tabs would work pretty well on their own as long as there are not too many water changings.

Rinse aid generally being acidic in pH has the extra advantage of neutralizing detergent residue, at least pH wise. No All-in-one product is apt do that by itself.

Would like to experiment with white vinegar, but AFAIR at least one DW manufacturer warned against its use in the past. I think possible damage to the the rinse aid dispenser`s gasket was mentioned.

 

[mrb627]

Fine Wine and Glassware

Now that you mention it, I do have two glassware cycles on my Miele. I think one is with heat and one without, but neither introduce rinse aid in the last rinse.

Funny, I have never used either of them.

Malcolm

 

[launderess]

I'll Say It Again...

Most better automatic dishwashing detergents contain some type of wetting agent. This sheeting action should in theory last over into the rinse (hopefully) and depending upon a few factors may be all one needs if preventing spots is the problem.

OTOH with modern American dishwashers often using lower temperatures and or convection drying things may not dry quickly nor as completely without some sort of "drying agent" in the final rinse. This is what the small amounts of alcohol do in rinse aids.

I've never used heated drying (ok rarely if one is in a hurry) portion of a dishwasher in my life. But then again am pretty liberal with dosage of rinse agent and use Cascade "complete" which allegedly contains rinse agent. Was either that or a brief romance with Electrasol (later Finish) tablets with their "powerball"

If we were back in the pre-1970's era when dishwashers used and or required water temps of >150F along with routine use of "Sani Rinse "cycles then drying agents probably wouldn't be required as after several cycles of that treatment dishes were so hot they flash dried. However you'll notice even back then dishwasher makers recommended a rinse agent (Rinse Glo or Jet Dry) to prevent spots.

For those with front loading washing machines with glass portholes you know the drill. You can tell how effective rinsing is by how water beads up (or not) on the glass. If water is still sheeting that indicates presence of surfactants (detergent), or some sort of fat/oil. Fabric softeners are mainly emulsions of fats/oils/tallow and or surfactants (cationic), so there you are.

 

[philr]

I do use "all in one" detergents in my dishwashers that don't have a rinse agent dispenser. And I do have very hard water where my 1962 Frigidaire Deluxe is installed and no deposits anywhere. If I try with regular detergents, I get water stains. Even with rinse agent and regular detergents, I get water stains with the '69 Frigidaire dishwasher next to it... BTW, the rinse agent dispenser in that dishwasher started to leak recently, I need to get another one!

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Sorry, perhaps I got it in the wrong way, but, while using front loaders, I can share the thing about water being more prone to bead up on the glass window, and that is a sign of good rinsing... Very true!
But, I could also see that once softener has been added, actually, water beads up even more....but if softeners are emulsions of fats and you say that this will not happen in presence of fatty emulsions, , then that leaves me a little confused about why indeed to me it seems increased this thing...
Also...
You know, if you have ever used natural soaps in a front loader, you will have noticed that this thing of water happens with soaps very much, as soon as water is being rinsed and loose it's soapy tension thing( pardon, don't know how the heck call it, if there is a term, hope you get what I mean) to get into "scum" ( fatty origin compound ) patina greysh rinse water (substantially rinse water from soaps, I know you know what I mean) so then you'll see it will start creating these drops beadsvery much, like it does with softeners, and sure much more than how it may happen and does happen naturally by letting the machine run empty...
Is it just me experiencing that?
[this post was last edited: 6/4/2014-16:42]

 

[kenmoreguy89]

An example in a video...

Please follow the complete (condensed in a 20 min video) cycle of this Eudora, is it only me seeing the usual beads up thing of softeners in the last rinse?