What Does Rinse Aid Do in the Dishwasher?

If your dishwasher leaves you with spotty or streaked dishes, you may benefit by adding a rinse aid product to your nightly dish load. Dishwasher rinse aid is a drying agent dispensed during the rinse cycle to help remove excess water from dishes prior to drying. When used as directed, rinse aids may prevent water spots and streaks from forming, allowing for a picture-perfect finish on your favorite cups, plates and cutlery.

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What Is Dishwasher Rinse Aid?

Rinse aid is an add-in dishwasher product formulated to help prevent spots, streaks and chalky residue on dishes during the drying cycle. In most cases, hard water minerals like salt, calcium and limescale cause the spots and residue. While generally considered harmless, water spots and residue can make your dishes appear dull or dirty. Plus, buildup from the hard water minerals may damage your dishes over time.

When added to your dishwasher load, rinse aid works as a surfactant — a drying agent that reduces water's natural ability to bead up and cling to surfaces. This process allows the water to "sheet" or run off the dishes during the final rinse, reducing the amount of droplets that can form spots or streaks when the water evaporates.

What Is Dishwasher Rinse Agent Made of?

Specific dishwasher rinse aid ingredients can vary by brand and formulation. However, most products contain surfactants such as alcohols to minimize water surface tension and prevent streaking and water spots.

Citric acid is another common rinse aid ingredient, and it functions as a descaling agent to break down hard water minerals and soap scum. Some products may also contain added fragrance. Environmentally-friendly dishwasher rinse aids are often formulated with citric acid and "greener" ingredients like sodium citrate and organic vinegar to help reduce water spots and cloudiness on dishes.

Rinse aid formulations come in both standalone liquids and detergent pod combinations. Detergent pods contain both standard dishwasher detergent to clean the dishes, along with a rinse aid for faster drying and spot prevention.

What Is Liquid Rinse Aid Supposed to Do?

Dishwasher rinse aid products are designed to prevent water from beading and attaching to dishes during the drying cycle. Rinse aid is released during your dishwasher's final rinse cycle and mixes with the dishwasher water. The drying agents in rinse aid help the water run off the dishes instead of adhering to them, resulting in faster drying and reduced streaks and water spots.

In addition to preventing hard water spots, streaks and residue, rinse aid may also help extend your dishwasher's lifespan. The mineral deposits that settle on your dishes can also build up in your dishwasher, which can lead to issues such as clogged spray arms and damaged pipes. The surfactant action in dry rinse aid causes dishwasher water to spread out into a sheet and rinse away, preventing both water spots and heavy mineral buildup.

Here are some additional benefits of using dish rinse aid in the dishwasher:

• Improved water drainage: Dry rinse aids work to prevent hard water mineral buildup, which allows for more efficient water drainage.

• Improved energy efficiency: Rinse aid products are designed to help dishes dry faster, which may reduce the dry time required by your dishwasher's internal heat mechanism. Over time, you may see an improvement in your dishwasher's overall energy efficiency.

• Reduced odors: Rinse aids help improve drying time for both dishes and your dishwasher's interior surfaces. By reducing moisture buildup inside your dishwasher, rinse aid may help reduce dampness and prevent moisture-related odors.

• Cleaner dishes: Rinse aid sheeting action stops water droplets from forming on dishes, which also helps prevent leftover food particles from sticking to your dishes. While standard dishwasher detergent is effective at cleaning dishes, rinse aid can provide an extra layer of cleaning power.

How Does Rinse Aid Work?

Rinse aid works as a drying agent that prevents droplets from forming on dishes during the rinse cycle by reducing water surface tension. Instead of drying on the dishes and leaving unsightly residue behind, the water sheets off and allows for a clean rinse.

Some dishwashers have built-in rinse aid dispensers, and you can also add a few tablespoons of liquid rinse aid to the bottom of the dishwasher tub. Built-in rinse aid dispensers usually release the product during the final rinse cycle. When you manually add the rinse aid product to the dishwasher tub, it mixes with the water during the rinse phase.

Do You Need Rinse Aid?

The short answer is no. You don't need rinse aid to run a dishwasher. However, you may find that dishes covered in water spots don't look or feel as clean as you want them to be after running a cycle. Plus, rinse aid is good for your machine.