Living items · Dishwasher indicators

Dishwasher rinse aid versus salt: symbols and refilling

Rinse aid and dishwasher softening salt serve different purposes. Some models have no salt reservoir; check the manual first.

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Do not pour rinse aid or dishwasher salt into the wrong compartment to fix spots on glasses. Bosch explains that rinse aid helps water drain and drying, while special salt regenerates the softener in models equipped with one. Symbols and needs vary by model and water hardness.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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Find the dishwasher model number and manual. Check whether it has separate rinse-aid and softener-salt reservoirs.
Rinse-aid symbols vary but may resemble a star or sun; only refill a designated rinse-aid compartment on models that have one.
Add dishwasher-specific rinse aid only up to the marked maximum, wipe any spill and close the cap securely.
Some models use an S-shaped salt warning. Confirm that your machine has a built-in water softener and check local water hardness.
Where required, fill only the dedicated salt compartment with dishwasher softener salt. Never substitute table salt or detergent.
Clean up any salt spills as instructed and run a cycle promptly to reduce corrosion risk. For persistent warnings, consult the manual or service center.

Bosch Home AppliancesWhy fill your dishwasher's rinse aid dispenser ↗Bosch explains rinse aid purpose, the door-mounted dedicated compartment, filling to max, wiping spilled rinse aid and adjusting settings per manual.Bosch Home AppliancesDo I need dishwasher salt if I use tablets? ↗Bosch explains special salt for built-in water softeners, hard-water dependence, correct reservoir, avoiding table salt and running a cycle after filling.Bosch Home AppliancesDishwasher Symbols & Settings ↗Bosch describes model-specific refill symbols for rinse aid, salt and water tap.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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