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For more than a decade, I've relied heavily on vinegar as one of my main cleaning agents. From glass shower doors to stinky kitchen rags, it really is my ol' reliable. I've tried using vinegar in my dishwasher to clean it, but only on an empty load - and I more often reach for dishwasher cleaning pods for regular maintenance. That said, I recently learned that using a bowl or cup of vinegar during a full dishwasher load is just as effective, especially when it comes to keeping glassware clean and shiny.
I live in Southern California where water is moderately to very hard, which creates extra cloudiness and mineral buildup on my glassware, making it look dull and dirty even when it's clean. As it turns out, vinegar is one of the most effective rinse aids, deodorizers, and cleaners for glasses of all shapes and sizes, inside and outside of the dishwasher.
The Kitchn editors - along with the parents of Senior Lifestyle Editor Quinn Fish - have sworn by this easy hack for decades, so I knew I had to put it to the test. Since I was planning a Halloween dinner with themed cocktails, I figured I'd give my glassware (along with some other dirty dishes, including my most-used vase) a thorough wash to see how well this trick really worked.
Cowboy Beans
What Happened When I Put a Cup of Vinegar in My Dishwasher
To ensure the vinegar I was using could work to its full potential, I made sure to first remove my dishwasher's filter and drain screen and hand-washed them with water and dish soap. Once I put them back, I loaded my dishwasher as I normally would, adding a cup in the center of the top rack filled halfway with Open Nature cleaning vinegar. (I first tried placing a bowl, but since it was wobbling too much, I opted for an acrylic drinking cup). I then added a dishwasher detergent pod and turned the setting on to a normal load.
After letting the dishes dry for about an hour after the wash cycle was done, I checked for any stains, streaks, or buildup. I was pleased to see my cocktail glasses, coupe glasses, and vase were sparkling clean - probably cleaner than I'd ever seen them. I also noticed that my dishwasher didn't have that sulfur-y smell it can get sometimes, likely thanks to the vinegar.
I mean, just look at those before-and-after results! Needless to say, I'll be adding a cup of vinegar to my future dishwasher loads to make my cleaning routine a breeze, with glistening glassware to boot. I only wish I had thought to do it sooner!
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