How to Fill a Rinse Aid Jet-Dry Whirlpool Dishwasher

Jet-Dry is a product that is advertised under the Finish brand of dishwasher detergents. However, the Whirlpool Corporation, a different entity, does not hesitate to encourage owners of their dishwashers to use Jet-Dry as a rinse aid.

Test the hardness of your home's water using a simple hand-washing test.

The final rinsing phases of your automatic dishwashing cycle uses water only, but a rinse aid conditions low-quality water to make sure your dishes "look" spotless, as well as "smell" and "feel" clean. Before you pour Jet-Dry into the rinse aid dispenser, you should consider a few preliminary pieces of information.

Check the Gauge

Most Whirlpool dishwasher models include a visible gauge that shows how much rinse aid is in the dispenser. The proper way to view this gauge is to completely open the door of the dishwasher, where it is on a horizontal 180-degree plane. Otherwise, reading the gauge at an angle, such as 45 degrees, could distort the reading. The labeling of the gauge differs among dishwasher models, but the indicators are mostly intuitive. If the "Fill Indicator" cap is clear, and not the color blue from the Jet-Dry, then you need to fill the dispenser. To be sure, you can remove the cap by turning the knob to "Open" and lifting it out. The presence of the letter "E" for empty will also indicate that a refill is necessary.

Jet-Dry Bottle

The Jet-Dry rinse aid bottle is integral to making sure you don't overfill the dispenser in the dishwasher. The container is compact with a precise-pouring nozzle on the cap. You should keep this cap on, but lift the lid to expose the nozzle. When you slowly and carefully turn the Jet-Dry bottle to the side and then upside down, you might notice that the blue liquid will not easily pour out until you squeeze and apply pressure. Though rinse aid is not a detergent, per say, if you overfill the dispenser, you could end up with too many suds that affect drain performance.

Fill the Dispenser

Simply pour the rinse aid into the dispenser. Stop pouring when the indicator points to "Full." Use a dish cloth or paper towel to wipe up any spilled rinse aid. Put the "Fill Indicator" cap back into the dispenser and turn it to the locking position.

Adjust the Dispenser

With all of the caution about overfilling, Whirlpool gives you some control over how much rinse aid is released during the cycle. The main purpose for manually controlling the amount is that your home could have hard water due to minerals, and excess calcium is the main culprit in spotting on glassware. If your model includes adjustable rinse aid settings, then use a higher number, above the default number "2" to have the dishwasher release more Jet-Dry than normal. Visit Whirlpool's "Manuals and Literature" website to download instructions that are specific to your dishwasher. Your model number is usually found around the frame of the dishwasher's door.

The Drip Cap

Jet-Dry is a product that is advertised under the Finish brand of dishwasher detergents.
The final rinsing phases of your automatic dishwashing cycle uses water only, but a rinse aid conditions low-quality water to make sure your dishes "look" spotless, as well as "smell" and "feel" clean.
Most Whirlpool dishwasher models include a visible gauge that shows how much rinse aid is in the dispenser.
To be sure, you can remove the cap by turning the knob to "Open" and lifting it out.
The presence of the letter "E" for empty will also indicate that a refill is necessary.