As a surfactant, rinse aid prevents water from forming into droplets and instead encourages it to drain from the surface in thin sheets. ... Rinse aid doesn't actually help in rinsing, rather, it zaps droplets and thus hastens drying and promotes shininess.

Do you really need rinse aid?

You need rinse aid because dishwasher detergents don't work the same as they used to. ... Every new dishwasher has a rinse-aid dispenser because rinse aid is essentially mandatory if you want your dishwasher to work well these days, according to every industry person we talked to.

Is rinse aid bad for your health?

The National Institutes of Health report that most rinse-aid is completely biodegradable, and while it is neither carcinogenic nor dangerous if used properly, it can cause eye and skin irritation following prolonged exposure and should not be ingested, of course.