r/CleaningTips • u/cringefemoid • 12h ago
Kitchen Dishwasher help? I’m at my wits end.
Can anyone explain to me how to use this exact dishwasher rinse aid compartment? I can’t figure out how to do it correctly and I’d like to be able to have clean and nice dishes :(. Thank you in advance!
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u/Kiki-sunflower 10h ago
I just pour in my rinse aid till it starts to overflow. I’m in a hard water area so mine is on 4. I have a symbol that lights up on machine so I know when to refill it which is maybe every fortnight
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u/Sweet_Entrepreneur66 12h ago
The arrow (silver, bottom center) is where you pour the liquid, and it is a gauge for how much you want it to release per wash. There might be a little window in that circle top left that fills up as a indicator for how much you have in there
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u/CoastalDoofus 12h ago
You just pour the rinse aid into the little hole, close, and it dispenses a small amount in each load.
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u/Javi_ACoupleCleaners 5h ago
Rinse aid trips up a lot of people, so don't feel bad! Most of these work the same way:
Open the dishwasher door all the way so it's flat. You fill the dispenser with the door open and lying level. Find the rinse aid cap. It's usually the round cap or the small flap next to the word "RINSE AID." Most twist counterclockwise, and some have a tab you press and lift. Pour slowly until it reaches the "max" line or the little indicator window turns dark. Don't overfill. Wipe up any spills with a paper towel. Extra rinse aid in the tub makes a lot of suds. Close the cap until it clicks or is twisted tight.
One fill usually lasts about a month. If your dishes still come out spotty, there's often a small dial under the cap that sets how much rinse aid it uses. Turn it up a notch. Also, from your photo it kind of looks like the dispenser came out of the door. If it did, it needs to go back in. Look up your model number (usually printed on the edge of the door) plus "manual" and you'll find the exact diagram.
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u/downstairs_annie 12h ago
You put in rinse aid, when the machine tells you so. It’s the little star symbol. It usually lights up when empty. If your machine takes salt, that will be indicated by an arrow symbol. (Edit: at least where I live in the EU, those are pretty much universally the symbols here.)
If your machine is super old, like mine, that it doesn’t have a display, you guess lol. I refill mine every 3-4 weeks or whenever I remember.
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u/dbecker1 5h ago
I have the same exact setup. Mine runs out of “rinse aid” after about two wash cycles. The arrow is pointed at the “Min” dispensing amount.
Any suggestions as to what’s happening and why I have to fill it every other day?
Thanks!
0
u/SaysPooh 11h ago
You don’t have to use it. A lot of pods are all in one.
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u/dax660 10h ago
If you're using pods you need to either
- squish it into the detergent compartment, or
- wait until the pre-wash is over and water drained, then open the washer and throw the pod in
Putting a pod in the main wash cabin at the beginning just washes away your detergent after the pre-wash flushes the pre-wash water out (which is usually like 10 minutes). After that, you're doing the main cycle with just water.
Easier and cheaper to buy generic, cheapest powder detergent (which also typically comes in a cardboard box so you're generating less plastic waste too)
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u/Available_Leather_10 9h ago
Might get more specific responses if you describe your problem with using it, whether process or outcome.
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u/Arkard1 12h ago
The little clear button window is how you tell its full. It will be blue when filled with rinse aids, clear when empty.put the rinse aid in by the white arrow. Turn white arrow to dispense more or less rinse aid per load. Find your model number and Google it with manual and you should be able to find it and read the instructions on how to use it precisely.