Rinse aid for industrial dishwashers: which one to use for your water
Rinse aid is dosed in the final rinse and decides whether dishes and glassware come out dry and free of marks. Here is which one suits each type of water, at what dosage and temperature according to its data sheet, and how to adjust the dosing.
Call us: +34 938 891 344 · WhatsApp +34 610 77 61 25
What rinse aid does in an industrial dishwasher
Rinse aid (a rinsing additive) is dosed in the final rinse. It helps water run off dishes and glassware so they dry without drops or limescale marks. Our data sheets describe it as containing drying agents and anti-foaming agents, and it leaves no odours or tastes on the items.
It works together with the detergent: the detergent cleans in the wash and the rinse aid acts in the rinse. Both are chosen according to water hardness, because limescale is the main cause of film and stains.
Which rinse aid to use for your water
If you do not know the hardness of your water, as a guide: soft up to 15 °fH, medium from 15 to 30, hard from 30 to 40 and very hard above 40.
| Water | Rinse aid | Dosage (data sheet) | pH | Pack sizes | Data sheet notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | Detersec K | 0.3–1 g/l | 2.5 | 10 and 20 kg | |
| Medium hardness | Detersec | 0.1–0.5 g/l | 2.5 | 10 kg, 20 kg and 4x5 kg | |
| Hard | Deterbrill | 0.1–0.5 g/l | 2.5 | 10 and 20 kg | Its data sheet describes it as specially designed for automatic glassware washing. |
| Very hard or high conductivity | Deterdry · eqo Abrillantador | 0.1–1 g/l · 0.1–0.8 g/l | 2.0 | 10 kg, 20 kg and 4x5 kg · 10 kg | Strong anti-limescale power against film and stains from hard water. Deterdry is also suitable for ovens with a self-cleaning system. |
| Decalcified or osmosis | Osmosec · Osmosec R | 0.3–1 g/l | 2.5 · 2.8 | 20 kg · 10 kg | Osmosec R, when effective foam control is required. |
| Glassware (whitish haze) | Cristabrill | 0.1–1 g/l | 1.9 | 10 kg | Dispersing and deflocculating properties to remove whitish haze and white stains. |
| All types of water, with EU Ecolabel | Eco Rinse | 0.3–0.5 g/l | 2.5 | 10 kg (bag-in-box) | EU Ecolabel certified, no. ES-CAT/038/012. Its data sheet does not state a temperature. |
Use temperature according to the data sheets: 65–80 °C, except Eco Rinse, whose data sheet does not state one. The type of water for each rinse aid is the one given by its name; to choose precisely, tell us your water hardness and your machine.
How to dose rinse aid
- Use automatic dosing, which is what the data sheets recommend: the machine's own pump or a dosing unit.
- Start with the low dosage in the data sheet range (for example, 0.1 g/l for Detersec).
- If dishes come out with drops or drying marks, raise the dosage gradually without exceeding the data sheet maximum.
- If foam appears in the machine, check the dosage; with osmosis water, Osmosec R is designed to control foam.
- Check the rinse at the data sheet temperature (65–80 °C) and review the dosage when the water or the machine changes.
Common problems and what to check
White haze on tumblers and glasses
Cristabrill, designed to remove whitish haze and white stains from glassware; with very hard water, Deterdry or eqo Abrillantador.
Drops and wet items
Check that the tank has product and that the pump is dosing; then adjust the dosage within the data sheet range.
Foam with osmosis water
Osmosec R, for when effective foam control is required.
Limescale in the machine
If limescale has already built up, the machine must be descaled first, for example with Detercal. More in industrial descalers.
The pairing by water hardness
| Water | Detergent (data sheet limit) | Rinse aid |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | Deternet (up to 20 °fH) | Detersec K |
| Medium hardness | Deterdur (up to 40 °fH) or Supersol, powder (up to 45 °fH) | Detersec |
| Hard | Deterdur (up to 40 °fH) or Supersol (up to 45 °fH) | Deterbrill |
| Very hard | Deterplus (up to 65 °fH) | Deterdry or eqo Abrillantador |
For a complete EU Ecolabel line, Eco Dish and Eco Dish + with Eco Rinse: more in EU Ecolabel products.
Frequently asked questions about dishwasher rinse aid
Where is rinse aid added in an industrial dishwasher?
In the final rinse. All our data sheets state this: rinse aid is dosed into the final rinse water, normally with the machine's dosing pump or an automatic dosing unit, which is what the data sheets recommend.
What rinse aid dosage is used?
It depends on the product and the water: according to their data sheets, between 0.1 and 1 g per litre of rinse water, at 65–80 °C. For example, Detersec is used at 0.1 to 0.5 g/l and Detersec K at 0.3 to 1 g/l.
Why do dishes come out wet or with drops?
Usually there is not enough rinse aid or it is not the right one for the water hardness. Check that the tank is not empty and that the pump is dosing; if the problem persists, adjust the dosage within the data sheet range or switch to the rinse aid indicated for your water.
Does the same rinse aid work for dishes and glassware?
It can, but for glassware with whitish haze or white stains there are specific rinse aids: Cristabrill is designed for automatic glassware washing, and Deterdry and eqo Abrillantador, for very hard water and glassware.
Which rinse aid do you need?
Tell us your water hardness (or your town), the machine and what is going wrong (drops, haze, marks, foam): we will recommend the rinse aid and the dosage according to its technical data sheet.
Request advice
Todos los campos son obligatorios excepto el mensaje.
¿Prefieres hablar directamente? +34 938 891 344