Should I use rinse aid in addition to my dishwashing detergent? Opinions differ on this question. Read here what rinse aid is needed for and which undesirable side effects of machine dishwashing can be avoided by using rinse aid.
The function of rinse aid
A streak-free shine on glasses and cleanly rinsed plates without lime or water spots - that's how we imagine the dishwasher's cleaning performance. For a flawless dishwashing result, the use of rinse aid is therefore advisable. It not only cleans dishes, cutlery and glasses thoroughly, but also does a great job inside the machine: limescale and grease deposits are removed and sensitive components such as the filter are effectively protected. Another advantage is that even plastic containers can be removed directly from the machine thanks to the extra-dry effect, without the need for time-consuming subsequent drying.
What's in it? The composition of rinse aid
Dry dishes as if by magic? This practical effect illustrates what rinse aid is actually good for. It reduces the surface tension of the water. As a result, the dishwater runs off more easily, which prevents water spots. In addition to surfactants, rinse aids also contain solvents, citric acid and other additives and fragrances. If you don't have any rinse aid on hand, you can remedy the situation with just a few ingredients. Besides water and alcohol, citric acid is the most important additive for a homemade rinse aid solution. Another use for rinse aid is as a cleaning agent for cleaning windows or bathrooms. Glass and stainless steel surfaces become sparkling clean.
Tips and tricks for using rinse aid
"Rinse aid, what for? Why don't I use convenient Multitabs or Somat Caps?" You're exactly right, because multifunctional tabs like Somat All in 1 or Somat Gold already have a rinse aid phase. The pre-dosed tabs are among the most popular cleaning agents for dishwashers and are characterized by their perfectly dosed formula.
It all depends on the dosage - whether and how much rinse aid should be used depends above all on the degree of water hardness. Hard water from 14 degrees dH leaves limescale deposits on dishes and machine parts more quickly. Therefore, the use of rinse aid is indispensable with hard water. Did you know that you can easily find out the water hardness of your connection at the local waterworks? Alternatively, you can determine the water hardness with commercially available test sticks.
Even if you prefer dishwashing detergent in classic powder form, it is essential to use rinse aid and special salt. This allows the individual components to be dosed individually and ideally matched to the water hardness.
Rinse aid can also have another use: Stainless steel surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom tiles, windows and shower stalls can be cleaned particularly thoroughly and without residue with rinse aid. If you use rinse aid outside the dishwasher, protect your skin and mucous membranes by wearing suitable household gloves, for example.
The rinse aids from Somat leave a subtle fresh scent in the machine.
Replenishing rinse aid - necessary household hacks
How often you need to refill rinse aid depends on the individual dosage setting. You can easily recognize the container for refilling by the sun symbol. Wear suitable household gloves when refilling to protect your skin from direct contact with surfactants and other concentrated ingredients. If the container accidentally overflows or there is rinse aid residue on the outside of the container, it is advisable to remove it. If rinse aid gets inside the dishwasher outside the final rinse phase, foam formation cannot be ruled out. Some dishwasher models have an indicator that is activated as soon as rinse aid needs to be refilled.
