Use of copolymers comprising alkylene oxide units and comprising, in randomly or blockwise copolymerized form, (a) 50 to 93 mol % of acrylic acid and/or a water-soluble salt of acrylic acid, (b) 5 to 30 mol % of methacrylic acid and/or a water-soluble salt of methacrylic acid and (c) 2 to 20 mol % of at least one nonionic monomer of the formula I ##STR00001## in which the variables have the following meanings: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or methyl; R.sup.2 is a chemical bond or unbranched or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkylene; R.sup.3 is identical or different unbranched or branched C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkylene radicals; R.sup.4 is unbranched or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl; n is 3 to 50, as deposit-inhibiting additives in the rinsing cycle of a dishwasher.