Prevent Stubborn Water Spots on Your Dishes with These Fast Fixes
If you've ever unloaded your dishwasher only to find cloudy streaks and speckled spots on your supposedly clean glassware, you've suffered from water spots. Water spots are a common nuisance in many households. They dull the shine of glassware, leave film on plates, and make dishes look dirty—even when they're not. Fortunately, you can implement immediate and long-term strategies to eliminate these streaky marks for good.Scott Schrader is the chief marketing officer at Cottage Care in Colorado.
Murray Clark is the owner of Murray Clean in Massachusetts.
own MaidThis Cleaning in Utah and are members of the Thumbtack Pro Advisory Board.Related: 6 Things You Should Be Doing to Help Your Dishwasher Clean Better
Water spots are mineral deposits left behind when hard water evaporates. Hard water is rich in dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. When dishes air-dry, especially in a dishwasher or on a drying rack, the water evaporates, and these minerals remain on the surface, forming those unsightly white or grayish specks.
The severity of water spots varies depending on your local water hardness. In areas with especially hard water from the tap, a water filter may help. Older dishwashers that are not optimized for modern detergent and rinse aid formulations can also show streaks and stains.
You can take easy actions to prevent or remove water spots.
'The best way to avoid water stains is to dry the dishes immediately after washing,' says Scott Schrader of Cottage Care in Colorado. He says towel drying or using a rinse aid in the dishwasher can keep water from sitting on surfaces long enough to evaporate and deposit minerals. This easy fix limits the amount of time moisture spends on dishware, reducing the opportunity for spotting.
Hand-drying dishes right after they've been washed—whether by hand or machine—can make a visible difference. Murray Clark, owner of Murray Clean in Massachusetts, says to try paper towels or microfiber cloths to avoid spots. Microfiber cloths are particularly effective because they're highly absorbent and don't leave lint behind. They also have an electrostatic charge, which helps pull in any lingering dust or debris clinging to the dish surface.
Another quick and highly effective fix? Rinse aid.
Jen and Brian Boyle, owners of Maid This Cleaning and members of the Thumbtack Pro Advisory Board, explain that 'the rinse aid is released in the final cycle of the drying and allows water to run off the dishes, thus promoting better drying and less chance of water spots.'
Many dishwashers come with a compartment for rinse aid, and using it regularly is one of the easiest ways to reduce spotting.
Keep things natural with distilled white vinegar. Add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of your dishwasher before running a cycle to break down mineral buildup and leave dishes sparkling clean. For hand-washed dishes, use a diluted vinegar rinse as a final step. The acid in vinegar dissolves mineral deposits and provides a streak-free shine on glassware and plates.
For spot treatment or periodic use, vinegar is a chemical-free solution.Be cautious not to overuse vinegar in the dishwasher, as the acid can degrade certain rubber components, like gaskets and filters.If your dishes are still spotting despite using a rinse aid, it might be time to review your dishwasher settings. Selecting a longer drying cycle or a higher-temperature rinse can evaporate water more cleanly. Do not overload your dishwasher. When dishes are crammed tightly together, water cannot circulate effectively, leading to improper rinsing and more chances for water spotting. Ensure dishes have enough space between them and that larger items like pans or trays don't block the path of the spray arms.
Don't underestimate the importance of keeping your dishwasher clean. Mineral buildup can clog spray arms, coat heating elements, and reduce the effectiveness of rinse cycles. Once a month, run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar or a dishwasher cleaner to flush out hard water deposits and grease. You should also check and clean the filter regularly, as trapped food particles can interfere with water flow and cleanliness.
For households with persistently hard water, no amount of rinsing or towel drying can completely eliminate water spots. In these stubborn cases, the most effective solution is to install a water softener. Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium ions from your home's water supply and replace them with sodium or potassium ions. The result is 'soft' water that doesn't leave mineral residue behind. While the upfront expense can be costly, the long-term benefits go beyond dishware—soft water is also gentler on appliances, skin, clothing, and plumbing.
Related: The Best Water Softeners of 2025, Tested by BHG
Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens
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