Using Vinegar As Rinse Aid.

[windywillow]

Has anyone tried using vinegar in the dishwasher instead of rinse aid? I'm considering trying it but the thought of vinegar-tasting dishes is putting me off.

Has anyone tried it? Does it leave a taste/smell of vinegar?

[windywillow]

YMF, I can get a bottle of white vinegar for 29p from Aldi or Asda, whereas a bottle of Rinse Aid costs £2+, - so it's a saving worth making IMO.

Don't know if we're comparing 'like for like' though, hence the question, "Has anyone tried it?".

Thanks for replies, all. x

[Barsel]

Etch If you come back to this thread, how do you know when the salt reservoir is empty?

[windywillow]

Barsel, a light comes on the front of my dishwasher telling me when to add salt.

[Etch]

Barsel - In my dishwasher the salt reservoir has a transparent blister on top in which a green float is visible. When the float sinks, and is no longer visible, the reservoir needs to be refilled.

[Hymie]

I buy the white vinegar from a Chinese wholesaler; 2 five litre containers in a box.

[windywillow]

Wow, that's a lot of vinegar. How do you use it, Hymie?

[10ClarionSt]

We wash our pots in the sink. Never even considered having a machine to do it. Still wouldn't.

[emmie]

most large items don't go in a machine, you have to do them by hand.

[barry1010]

If you want to try the white vinegar just put it where you usually put the rinse aid.

[youngmafbog]

//I can get a bottle of white vinegar for 29p from Aldi or Asda, whereas a bottle of Rinse Aid costs £2+//

ASDA have a 500 ml for £1.20.

And I find Rinse Aid last a year so are you really that broke? If you are then maybe dont run the machine do it by hand, I would suggest there are better savings to be made elsewhere.

[windywillow]

Were you looking at Sarson's, youngmafbog? Try looking at Asda's own brand as it's a fraction of the cost (just checked and still 29p for 568ml - although out of stock online). Sainsbury's own brand more expensive at 40p for 568ml.

Some *experts* claim that using a dishwasher is more economical than hand washing, depending on the age of the dishwasher and the way you use it. Newer ones are said to be much more energy-efficient than old ones.

It certainly works for me. My dishwasher uses 1 gallon of water per load and that's certainly less than my washing-up bowl. I run it on a 29 minute cycle in the evening, then open the door and let the dishes air-dry overnight to cut down on cost.

In cold weather I'm happy to leave 2 days' worth of pots in the dishwasher (there's only two of us). I'd never go back to being without it.

I ran it last night with 29p white vinegar in the rinse aid reservoir. Pleased to say it worked a treat.

[windywillow]

Emmie, my dishwasher has racks which can be folded down to accommodate bigger items. I have a 6 litre crockpot that fits in, also a huge frying pan. It goes in. And I only have a 9-place setting dishwasher. I guess everybody's dishwasher is different.

I used to say I wouldn't have one, but I'd hate to be without it now.

[Hymie]

At 50ml per dishwasher load, the 10 litres only lasts 200 washes.