The Forgotten Kitchen Liquid That Keeps Hard Water Stains Off Of Hand-Washed Dishes

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Whether it's soap scum or limescale, hard water can cause you unnecessary problems throughout your home. While the name sounds intimidating, hard water simply means it has a high concentration of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. One common and noticeable sign of hard water is the cloudy stains it leaves on your dishes. These stains look like white spots, and while they are harmless, they visually detract from cleanliness.

Giving these dishes an extra rinse from the tap won't help, and wiping them with a cloth is time-consuming and inefficient. Instead, reach for a bottle of rinse aid, like Finish Jet-Dry available on Amazon, for a streak-free shine. Rinse aid is a tried-and-true dishwasher trick that dries your dishes faster, but it can also be used effectively for hand-washing.

This product works to fight hard water stains by lowering the surface tension of the water, allowing the water to sheet off the surface instead of forming droplets. As the water flows off smoothly, the minerals wash away with it, leaving your dishes clean and spot-free.

While it might seem tempting to just use rinse aid as a spray to remove unsightly hard-water stains, there is a more efficient way that helps you avoid mistakes when hand-washing your dishes. Because rinse aid is highly concentrated, only a few drops are needed when diluted in water. The goal is to help water slide off the dish, so the rinse aid must be evenly distributed in the final rinse water.

First, prepare your sink as usual to hand-wash your dishes. That means adding your preferred dish soap to your basin of hot water and filling it to the desired level. It's good to remember exactly how much dishwashing liquid to actually use – no more than a teaspoon — to avoid excessive suds that are hard to rinse off. Prepare a separate tub or second sink with warm water and a few drops of rinse aid, then stir to combine. Remember that a little goes a long way — you don't want to add too much, or it could leave a residue on the dishes.

Next, wash your dishes like normal with your regular soap, and rinse as you normally would. Now, dip your dishes into the rinse bath, ensuring they are fully submerged. This allows the rinse aid to coat the dishes and prevent water spots. Finish by giving the dishes a final rinse with clean hot water to remove any remaining rinse aid. Finally, place the clean dishes in your drying rack to let them air-dry.