Contents
The dishwasher, after washing the dishes with detergent, rinses them with conditioner. Rinsing liquids are usually bought, but they can be replaced with cheaper alternative formulations. We will learn how to make a rinse aid for a dishwasher with your own hands from inexpensive components.
Use of conditioners in dishwashers
The use of rinsing agents requires careful dosage. With an insufficient dose, the dishes will not be washed to the desired condition, with an overabundance, they will be slippery. There is a separate compartment for the air conditioner in the dishwasher.
What are factory products made of?
Rinsing formulations are liquid and solid. The first is poured into special compartments provided in dishwashers. Solid ones are used in models without dispensers.
The composition of rinses may vary, but they all consist of safe ingredients:
- citric acid;
- polycarboxylate;
- ethanol;
- active substances (needed to create a protective film on dishes);
- alcohol;
- water;
- Surfactants (prevent the formation of foam).
Chlorine-containing products do an excellent job, but they are all too aggressive – they are not suitable for crystal, porcelain, silver. Alkali formulations are suitable for any product, but they all have a whitening effect.
Why is rinse aid needed?
To make the dishes shine after washing in the dishwasher, special conditioners are used in addition to the detergent. But these funds also have other tasks:
- removal of stains from the surface of dishes;
- stain protection;
- elimination of smells, fatty pollution;
- neutralization of alkalis and acids;
- limiting the contact of dishwasher components (PMM) with chemicals.
When washing dishes in the PMM, do not use conditioners for hand washing. They adversely affect the condition of the device, reduce its service life, cause malfunctions.
How to replace industrial conditioners?
It happens that the plates are already stacked in the PMM chamber, but there is no air conditioner left. What can replace it? Instead of industrial products, formulations are used that are easy to prepare – they use inexpensive and commonly available components.
There are many recipes for homemade dish conditioners. When choosing a suitable option, you should consider the material of the dishes and the safety of the components.
What ingredients should not be used?
In order not to harm yourself or the dishwasher, bypass recipes that contain:
- Acids – sulfuric or hydrochloric. They spoil products made of silver, plastic and stainless steel.
- alkalis. They, like acids, are dangerous, and besides, rinse aids with alkalis do not store well.
- Vinegar essence. 70% vinegar must be diluted to 9%. Otherwise, the dishes will smell unpleasant.
With citrus
This composition is completely safe, and it is very simple to prepare it:
- Take 1/2 cup of lemon juice.
- Mix juice with 4 tbsp. l. glycerin.
- Add orange essential oil – 10 drops.
- Mix the ingredients and pour the mixture into an opaque bottle.
For 12 sets of dishes take 1 tbsp. l. mixture – it is poured directly into the compartment for the air conditioner. After using the Citrus Rinse Mix, the plates will give off a slight citrus scent.
With soda
A popular recipe with soda ash. Prepare it like this:
- Mix 150 g of soda with borax (50 g) and citric acid (100 g).
- Finally, add magnesium.
It is a powder mixture that dissolves well in water. The dishes acquire a pleasant unobtrusive smell. On one standard sink put 4 tbsp. l. powder.
With balsamic vinegar
This recipe is considered one of the best:
- Pour 1 tsp into a glass of balsamic vinegar. mint essential oil.
- Add glycerin – 30 g, for fixing.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
You can use apple cider vinegar instead of balsamic, but the effect will be worse.
For one sink in a large machine, 20 g is used. Peppermint oil can be replaced with fir or orange. Choose an oil whose smell is most pleasant for you – its light aroma will come from the dishes.
With ethyl alcohol
Alcohol rinse is prepared as follows:
- Mix 200 g of ethyl alcohol with 50 g of citric acid.
- Add warm water – 100 g.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Add 1/2 tsp. orange oil.
Store the resulting product in a hermetically sealed container. Not more than six months. For one sink, spend 2 tbsp. l.
With ammonia and essential oil
This mixture gives the plates a pleasant aroma and shine. Prepare it like this:
- Mix 50 ml of ammonia with 5 g of essential oil. Choose the oil to your taste, but citrus is more suitable.
- Place the mixture in an airtight container.
Store this composition for 2 months. 2 tsp are spent on one standard cycle.
Turns out it’s very easy to make a mouthwash. In the kitchen, there are sure to be ingredients for at least one of the listed recipes. Homemade formulations are cheap, safe, effective, and smell good—you can always add your favorite essential oil to them.