Dishwasher rinses: how to choose, types

Rinse aid for a dishwasher is indispensable today. Cutlery in a special device is not only washed, but also looked after with the help of additional means that add shine and remove stains. However, conventional detergents are not suitable for dishwashers.

The rinse aid will improve the quality of the whole process. If you ignore it once, you will get a dish with a halo of drops, dull and unaesthetic. This is especially noticeable on "capricious" surfaces: porcelain, metal and glass. We will talk about which drugs are the best in our article.

Why you need a dishwasher rinse

Its main function is to supplement the work of the detergent. Cutlery is exposed to detergents dissolved in water during washing. Then the dirt is removed, but drops and streaks with chemical residues remain on the surface. And only at the last stage, kitchen utensils become shiny and perfectly clean, stains go away.

Modern machine rinses are aggressive enough to deal with any kind of dirt. They are more concentrated, because there is no direct contact with the skin, which means that you can effectively and quickly remove fat and thick plaque. But it is impossible to remove them without additional funds. Common household chemicals create copious foam that is not suitable for PMM.

The rinse aid has three main functions:

• removes detergent residues from dishes, rendering them harmless;
• accelerates drying, gives surfaces a gloss;
• makes the cutlery shiny and shiny.

The main component in the composition is a neutralizer of aggressive substances. It removes all foreign particles from the washing mixture and accelerates the process of water evaporation. Due to this, drying is much faster.

Manual washing involves the removal of residues mechanically with ordinary household products. The dishwasher does everything with a low pressure of water, using a concentrated chemical solution and high temperature (50-60 degrees). With the rinse aid, you will not have streaks on glasses and plates, and scale will not settle inside the dishwasher.

Types of dishwasher rinses

Rinse aids are divided according to purpose. They are:

• Highly specialized (only rinses and gives shine to the dishes).
• Multifunctional, additionally caring for PMM, preventing the formation of lime deposits and extending its service life.
• Hypoallergenic, necessary for people with hypersensitivity of the body. They contain only natural and safe substances.

Rinses are available in both liquid and tablet form. They may contain various natural acids, alcohol (ethanol) for quick drying. The tablet form is most often more universal - there is already a detergent, rinse aid and descaling salt.

How to choose the right one

Pay attention to the composition. Standard dishwasher detergent contains:

• Complexes of surfactants that bind dirt and grease, and then remove them from the surface. The tensides improve wettability, create a protective layer using the surface tension of H2O. This reduces drying time and saves electricity.
• The harder the water in the tap, the greater the percentage of detergents should be in the composition. Anionic sulfates (petroleum distillates) are the cheapest and most dangerous to the human body. But amphoteric and non-ionic are the least dangerous. The latter are 100% biodegradable.
• Polycarboxylates - protect the internal mechanisms of the unit from oxides and rust.
• Acids (citric, succinic, salicylic and lactic), which neutralize aggressive chemical components.
• Various alcohols and ethers that act as antifoam agents for surfactants, which prevent excess foam from stopping the machine. They are additional degreasers and flavorings.

All alkalis in the rinse aid have a whitening effect. This means that colored dishes will fade over time. If you have a lot of such cutlery, give preference to the minimum dosage of sodium hypochlorite.

Buy powder and mouthwash from the same brand. The manufacturer has already taken care of the optimal composition of working components, which will fulfill its purpose 100%.

Dishwasher rinse aid rating

1. Sodasan is a German product that is classified as environmentally friendly. The quality of the products is confirmed by European certificates. The brand is created on the basis of gentle soaps made from vegetable oils. It is completely free of surfactants from petroleum distillates and can be used for allergy sufferers, as well as to process children's dishes. Consists of 3 main components:

• Citric acid (dissolves and removes all deposits, maintains the required PH level),
• denatured alcohol (copes with the strongest fat),
• essential oils (give dishes a special aroma and soften hard water).

The drug is sensitive to the quality of H2O. When hard, the volume of Sodasan should be increased, and when soft, it should be decreased.

1. The Finish dishwasher rinse aid from the Polish company Reckitt Benckiseer is quite famous in our country. It will remove drips, accelerate drying (due to active components), and does not oxidize metal objects. Long-lasting Finish Aid (800 ml) removes limescale by enhancing the action of the detergent powder.

It includes:

• Nonionic surfactants (up to 15%), do not allow the dishes to fade and darken.
• Preservatives (from 3 to 12%) - prevent the growth of mold, fungi and other microorganisms.
• Polycarboxylates (less than 5%), enhance the action of other components.

The drug works well even on a short cycle. In addition to the liquid form, there are car care tablets on sale. Dishwasher finish rinse aid does not harm the health of allergy sufferers. As a safety net, you can turn on the rinse function again, but without the product itself.

1. The most popular remedies include the Somat All in one triple-action liquid from a Serbian manufacturer, which effectively cleans dishes, makes them shine and does not create streaks. It is inexpensive, and its composition is very similar to the well-known Finish. Among the main advantages, buyers note a convenient 600 ml bottle with a dispenser and a pleasant aroma. Contains surfactants (from 5 to 15%) and preservatives.

1. Frosch, produced by the German company Werner & Mertz. Its peculiarity is the ability to completely decompose in the environment. The bottle itself is half-recycled and can be used to wash baby dishes. It contains no chemical surfactants, phosphates and formaldehydes, and preservatives are presented in a minimal amount.

Phosphate-free nonionic surfactants are composed of plant components. Fruit acid will prevent streaks and white bloom from forming, helps to dry quickly. Frosch should be used in strict compliance with the dosage, as the excess amount is difficult to wash off the dishes.

1. Clean Home, created by the Russian company Himros. The only domestic product in the rating, sold since 1992. The brand positions itself as effective and harmless products for humans. They contain citric acid, polycarboxylates (up to 15%), and other functional additives (less than 5%).

This is a professional preparation that is also suitable for home use. It works equally well in standard and economy modes.

1. Top House from the German company Interos GmbH. This is another German drug that meets European standards. It does not contain fragrances, dyes or other corrosive substances. The tool is combined not only with tablets and powder of the brand of the same name, but also suitable for other companies.

It contains from 5 to 15% nonionic surfactants, citric acid and preservatives. A feature of Top House is the presence of hydrotropes, which increase the solubility of chemicals, reducing their viscosity.

For convenience, a special cap with a retractable spout is provided in the bottle. It allows you to pour liquid very accurately, down to a few milliliters. A 1 liter bottle lasts up to 20 cycles. But the Top House price is above average.

1. Paclan belongs to the international corporation CeDo and is presented in supermarkets in Russia as a high-quality and safe product. The formula of the drug includes nonionic surfactants (less than 15%), preservatives and a 5% bromine and nitropropane compound with a high level of antibacterial activity. In addition to the rinse aid, there are salt and powder of the same brand on sale. The bottle has an ergonomic shape and a comfortable spout.

How to make your own dishwasher rinse aid

All the necessary substances for self-production can be borrowed from nature. If you do not want to use aggressive chemistry, you are allergic or you are worried about your child's health, it is easy to do it yourself. You will also spend less money, since the products listed below are inexpensive. The following natural ingredients are used:

• citric acid or juice
• essential oils,
• fruit vinegar (apple cider, grape),
• alcohol.

By diluting a sachet (25 g) of citric acid (or squeezing a lemon) in a liter of water and adding a tablespoon of alcohol, you will get a safe and inexpensive solution. To give a pleasant smell to the resulting mixture, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Another way is apple cider vinegar and water (in a ratio of 1 to 3). By itself, vinegar is good at removing dirt and disinfecting surfaces. And after such treatment, you will have a shine on the dishes.

Another inexpensive and popular all-rounder is to mix three parts water, two dishwashing liquid, and one alcohol. Connect the elements carefully without creating copious foam. When separating substances, stir again until a homogeneous substance, and the excess foam from the detergent is easy to "extinguish" by increasing the amount of alcohol. With this solution, you can both wash and rinse dishes at the same time.

Do-it-yourself dishwasher rinses have one drawback - each plate will have to be rinsed by hand. This means that the procedure will take much more time than with the help of technology.

Also remember that dishwasher manufacturers recommend the use of special dishwashing detergents. In this case, the PMM will serve the time allotted to it. In the event of a breakdown of the unit, you may be denied warranty repair due to non-observance of the operating rules. Therefore, the above means should only be used manually, after removing the washed dishes from the unit.

How to use the rinse aid

Having bought a dishwasher for the first time and ignoring the instructions for it, some people are faced with the question of where to pour the rinse aid. By mistake, it is placed in the hole for the detergent powder (by analogy with a washing machine), but this is not correct. There is a special compartment for this.

The machine will signal the time of the rinse aid separately (the light and / or sound indicator will turn on). It should be poured into a special compartment when the washing process has ended. If you put them together with the detergent, there will be no effect.

The question of dosage often arises. All machines have a special function. Therefore, you can fill the dishwasher once for several cycles, and the device will use it up as needed.

It's good if your PMM has an economy mode (economy). If the dishes are not heavily soiled, you can use this program to save both water and detergent. In some cases, the consumption of powder, water and rinse aid is almost halved. And an ordinary half-liter bottle is enough for 15-20 washing cycles.

Do not remove the cups and plates from the unit until they have cooled completely, as the temperature drop will adversely affect the cutlery.

Conclusion

Using a dishwasher rinse aid not only removes aesthetic imperfections from your dishes, but also removes chemical residues.

Do not forget that you should use only those products that are recommended by PMM manufacturers. This is the only way to extend the service life of the electromechanical installation. And then she will delight you with shiny and crystal clear plates and glasses for many years.