As families settle back into school-year routines, the kitchen often gets a workout. Meal preparation picks up, packed lunches become a daily ritual and dishwashers can find themselves running nearly nonstop. For households dealing with hard water or mineral-heavy water, that increased use can also mean more exposure to conditions that contribute to rust-colored stains and corrosion.
Enter RUST GUARD, a German-engineered dishwasher device designed to help protect stainless-steel flatware, cutlery, pots and pans from corrosion before visible damage occurs.
Now available in the United States for $19.99, RUST GUARD has sold more than 12 million units worldwide. The compact device is designed to sit inside the dishwasher and work passively during regular wash cycles, requiring neither electricity nor additional chemicals.
The product is designed to last for approximately 120 washes, making it a relatively low-maintenance addition to a household’s kitchen routine. Its makers say it can help protect everyday utensils used by families as well as higher-end cookware and kitchenware.
The need for products addressing water-related staining is particularly relevant in regions where households encounter hard water or naturally occurring minerals. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that iron in water can cause reddish-brown, rust-colored staining, while hard water affects large portions of the western and east-central United States.
RUST GUARD has also undergone independent testing by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM. Comparative testing found less visible corrosion on tested stainless-steel cutlery washed with RUST GUARD than on samples washed without the device.
The product was developed by German inventor Oliver Rokitta and first gained attention in Germany after appearing on Die Höhle der Löwen, the German version of the entrepreneurial television series Shark Tank, in 2017.
Its U.S. launch comes as consumers increasingly look for simple solutions that can fit into existing household routines without adding another complicated appliance or maintenance task.
Rather than requiring a change in how a dishwasher is operated, RUST GUARD is designed to work during the wash cycle. For busy households, that hands-off approach could make it particularly appealing as part of a fall kitchen reset.
At $19.99, the device also offers an inexpensive way for consumers to address a problem that can become frustrating when stainless-steel items begin showing discoloration or corrosion.
RUST GUARD is now available to U.S. consumers through The Home Depot and Amazon, giving households another option for protecting their kitchenware as back-to-school schedules put the dishwasher back at the center of daily life.