Dishwasher Trick: Vinegar Banishes Water Spots

Washing dishes can be a hassle. For those of you fortunate to own a dishwasher, you'll know water spots can be easily avoided with various rinse aids. But did you know that rinse aids leave a thin chemical residue on the “clean” dishes—a residue that you ingest whether you like it or not?

I have changed my dishwashing habits and now use eco-friendly powder or liquid detergents. When I switched detergents, I ran into a hard-to-clean problem: My dishes were riddled with water spots. So I did a little research and discovered a wonderful little trick that works great and costs less than conventional detergents: A little vinegar zaps water spots.

Pour white vinegar in the rinse aid compartment of your dishwasher, and you will be amazed at the results. Living in an area with soft water definitely helps.

No matter how many dishwasher loads you do a week, purchasing green detergents is the friendlier way to go.