Rinse aid might seem like one of those dishwasher products you can take or leave. Unlike dishwasher detergent, rinse aid isn't responsible for getting your dishes clean. Instead, it helps water slide off your dishes during the final rinse, so they dry more thoroughly and are less likely to develop water spots or cloudy film.
That means you can skip rinse aid and still get clean dishes, but you may notice a difference in how they look and how well they dry. Without rinse aid, more water can remain on the surface of your dishes after the final rinse. That can mean wetter dishes when you open the dishwasher, as well as more visible mineral deposits on glasses and other items when the water eventually evaporates.
The difference can be particularly noticeable in homes with hard water, where dissolved minerals are more likely to leave spots behind. It can also be more noticeable with plastics—including cups, bowls, and storage containers—since the material doesn't retain heat as well as glass or ceramic and can be more difficult for a dishwasher to dry.
If your dishwasher gets your dishes clean and dry enough for you, and you aren't bothered by the occasional water spot, there's no reason you must use rinse aid. But if you're dealing with consistently wet dishes, spotty glasses, or cloudy film, a rinse aid could make a noticeable difference.
Aside from a rinse aid, there are a few other ways to improve the drying of your dishes. Use a heated- or extended-dry setting if your dishwasher has one, and load dishes so water can drain away rather than pool in the bottoms of cups and bowls. Avoid overcrowding the racks, too, so water and air can circulate around the dishes.
These steps can help with damp dishes, but they won't necessarily solve hard-water spots. If mineral deposits are your main issue, rinse aid can be particularly useful, because it helps keep water from lingering on the surface in the first place.
Ultimately, rinse aid isn't essential to your dishwasher's cleaning performance; it's more about helping dishes come out drier and with fewer spots and cloudy residue.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
