[10 Min] 10 Unexpected Uses For Rinse Aid Around The House

These days, it seems like there are 394,384 different cleaners available and you need a specific one for every space in the home. On average, the typical household has approximately eight different products on hand for regular cleaning tasks. That's a lot of supplies to lug around. Wouldn't it be nice to have one product that works for everything? Okay, so we couldn't find one magic tool that does it all, but we did find a way to make one common product work in surprising ways. As it turns out, rinse aid isn't limited to the dishwasher. We found 10 unexpected uses for it around the house, from streak-free windows and mirrors to reviving the shine of your bathroom tile.

Finding new ways to use a single product is a great way to eliminate unnecessary purchases. And rinse aid can help you do that as it can be used in so many ways. Designed for the dishwasher, it works as a drying agent, removing water spots and soap residue. It leaves your dishes with an attractive shine. The main ingredient in rinse aid is a surfactant, which reduces the surface tension of water, helping the dishes dry faster while preventing water spots. It works alongside detergent to lift and wash away dirt and food grime. But it works on other surfaces outside the dishwasher in much the same way, leaving a streak-free shine across the whole house.

If you've ever cleaned your windows only to be left with water spots and filmy streaks after they've dried, you're not alone. In our quest to find a product that really works, we wondered, is dishwasher rinse aid the secret to streak-free windows? And it turns out, it is. To try this out, simply mix 2 tablespoons of dishwashing detergent with 1 tablespoon of rinse aid. Wet the window surface and apply the cleaning solution. Be sure to tackle the grime that might be stuck in the corners. Then rinse well with warm water and let it air dry.

We found this rinse aid hack that's supposed to clean glass shower doors and we put it to the test. The results were... mixed. It didn't clean the grime that had built up over time. However, once you give the shower a good scrub, you can use a daily shower spray made with rinse aid to help maintain the shine and keep that filmy build up at bay. To make the spray, mix ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide, ½ cup rubbing alcohol, 4 to 5 drops of liquid dish detergent, 2 teaspoons of rinse aid and 1 ½ cups of water.

If you've been wanting to dust off that old vinyl record collection from your uncle, get the rinse aid ready. We found the perfect way to gently bring the tunes back to life. Mix ¼ cup of isopropyl alcohol with ¾ cup distilled water and 1 to 2 drops of rinse aid together in a spray bottle. Shake it up and spray a small amount, using a microfiber towel to wipe one way and then back the other way. Do both sides of the record before wiping down with a damp cloth. Allow it to air dry.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what's the best cleaning product of them all? Rinse aid! Okay, maybe that's a stretch, but it is definitely the magical diy solution that repels fingerprints from surfaces at home, including your mirrors. And if you have kids in the house, you know how frustrating it can be to see all those smudges when you're trying to check your hair before running out the door. To make a cleaning spray, mix 2 ounces of rinse aid with 1 ½ ounces of isopropyl alcohol, half an ounce of liquid dish soap, and 12 ounces of water.

Speaking of fingerprints and smudges, stainless-steel appliances, like the refrigerator, seem to be an absolute magnet for them. Fortunately, you can use the same cleaning spray as the one used for mirrors to tackle your stainless-steel appliances. Simply spray it onto the surface and wipe it off with a microfiber towel. Stainless steel has a grain, just like wood, and it helps to wipe in the direction of the grain as you aim for a beautiful, streak-free (and fingerprint free) shine. Keep that spray bottle handy. We have more to clean!

Is your bathroom tile looking a little dull? Use a simple mix of rinse aid and water to make it sparkle. An easy method is to dampen the tiles before applying a small amount of rinse aid to a clean microfiber cloth and rubbing evenly across the surface. It's worth noting that if your tile has a lot of buildup, you'll want to give it a thorough scrubbing with a stronger cleaning agent first. Then you can apply your rinse aid shine booster for a beautiful, spot-free finish.

If you got a little carried away in the kitchen with dinner prep, you might need some help cleaning up that greasy stovetop (don't forget about those splatters on the backsplash and counter tops, too). Rinse aid to the rescue. Just spray a layer of the product over the mess and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping away. It will help lift all that nasty residue right off the surface. A handy trick is to attach a spray nozzle to the bottle for an easier and more controlled application.

Tired of seeing fingerprint smudges and water marks on your sink faucets? Grab that spray we made with 2 ounces of rinse aid with 1 ½ ounces of isopropyl alcohol, half an ounce of liquid dish soap, and 12 ounces of water. Not only will it leave your faucets nice and shiny, but it can repel fingerprints and keeps water marks away. Because rinse aid works more as a finishing touch than a deep cleaner, this would be best used as a daily spray, after you've thoroughly cleaned the faucet first.

Have you ever pulled silverware out of the drawer only to find your forks and spoons covered in water spots? If you have guests coming over and need to shine those utensils with no time to run them through the dishwasher again, no problem. A little rinse aid trick will have them sparkling in no time. Simply toss the silverware in a small bowl or in the sink and add hot water with a few drops of rinse aid. Let them soak for 15 minutes then rinse with water and dry with a microfiber towel.

Stainless steel pots and pans are a staple in most kitchens. If you have cooked with them for any length of time, you've probably noticed how streaked they can become, sometimes even leaving behind a rainbow swirl at the bottom. A quick way to take care of that? You guessed it — rinse aid. Just add a small amount of the product to a clean cloth and wipe down the pot or pan. The stains will disappear, and your cookware will look shiny and new. Make sure the pots and pans dry before you put them away.