Comments on: Homemade Dishwasher Rinse Aid for Spot-Free Dishes

By: Eliza Cross

Eliza Cross — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:20:34 +0000

In reply to Christy. Great question. About every month or so, I wash the filter in our dishwasher and wipe out the dispenser. Using the vinegar and water solution seems to keep everything clean. Hope this helps! ~Eliza

By: Christy

Christy — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:59:13 +0000

In reply to Eliza Cross. When using it in the dispenser, did you do anything first to clear/clean the dispenser of previously used commercial rinse aid? My washer is well beyond our warranty so I’m not too concerned about that!

By: Eliza Cross

Eliza Cross — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:30:06 +0000

In reply to Barb. Hi, Barb - Funny you should ask! I originally used the diluted vinegar mixture in my dishwasher dispenser, and it worked great. I suspect it's very similar to most commercial products, and probably gentler. However, a reader wrote that putting a homemade mixture in the dispenser might void the warranty on some dishwasher models. Out of an abundance of caution, I changed the recommendation to the shot glass method because I'd never want to steer my readers in the wrong direction. Thanks so much for stopping by to ask a great question! ~Eliza

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:15:26 +0000

Hi. I was wondering if you could just put the vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser instead of the shot glass? Thanks.

By: Stay in your lane

Stay in your lane — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 15:28:35 +0000

In reply to Johnnymorales. Before you put your wagging finger away you may want to redirect that to yourself - do a bit of research and you will find there ARE MSDS on sugar, salt, etc for items sold to universities all with warnings of do not ingest. Most companies in the US have been able to go around the need to list “hazardous items” due to the fact it isn’t in food. If people want to stick to a safer side of this argument- let them! How are they hurting you ????

By: Thomas Robicheaux

Thomas Robicheaux — Sat, 28 May 2016 17:47:20 +0000

I will be trying this soon. Once the Rinse Aid stuff is empty. Going phosphate free has left all my dishes with a film on them.

By: Anthony Mitchell

Anthony Mitchell — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:56:23 +0000

I agree vinegar is great in the dishwasher and also a tablespoon in dishwashing water removes hard water spots. I also use vinegar to descale the kettle (or saucepans), I then use the water while it is still warm (not boiling) to descale the shower head and finally put the cool vinegar in the washing machine to disinfect it. It works a treat and really stretches a single bottle. I also find malt vinegar is just as good at descaling as white vinegar and can be cheaper too.

By: Merilyn Johns

Merilyn Johns — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 14:15:04 +0000

I’m a huge fan of DIY cleaning products so many thanks for the ‘recipes’. We keep vinegar in a spray bottle and use it full strength when one of the dogs pees on the carpet. Keeps it from staining and removes the odor too.

Best regards! Merton Park Carpet Cleaners Ltd.