How to Make Homemade Windshield Wiper Fluid
Windscreen wiper fluid is a necessity in the car, particularly in winter when the roads can be covered in snow, ice and grit. Dirty spray from other vehicles can cover a car windscreen which is very dangerous, and could also get the driver into trouble with the police. Therefore it’s vital to always have enough wiper fluid in the car. However, this can become very expensive when it needs to be topped up every up every few days. Homemade windscreen wiper fluid is cheap, easy to make as it uses store cupboard ingredients, and just as effective as ready mixed store bought products. It will also use fewer chemicals and is therefore better for the environment. There are several ways to make windscreen wiper fluid.
For an extremely simple every day windscreen wiper fluid, mix regular store bought washing up liquid with water, using a ratio of around one to ten. For use in the colder months add rubbing alcohol to the mixture to keep it from freezing. Three parts alcohol to ten parts water will suffice. The ingredient in ready mixed, store bought windscreen wiper fluid that stops it from freezing is methanol however this cannot be bought off the shelf. Rubbing alcohol can, however, and it will work just as well. If it’s a particularly harsh winter then increase the ratio of rubbing alcohol to water to fifty-fifty. The alcohol will not enhance the cleaning process in any way, but what it will do is significantly reduce the temperature at which the fluid freezes which means that it will be able to withstand temperatures of minus 20 degrees of even greater.
Vinegar is great for keeping windscreens sparkling clean, grease and smear free. Mix equal parts of white distilled vinegar to water and fill the washer bottle. It couldn’t be simpler! Another tip to keep ice and frost at bay in the winter if the car is to be left outside is to mix three parts vinegar to one part water and coat the windscreen with it, inside and out.
Corn starch (corn flour in the UK) can also be mixed with a vinegar solution to make an effective windscreen wiper fluid. Corn starch is excellent for cleaning and, because it is slightly abbrasive, will remove all traces of grime off the windscreen and leave it sparkly clean. Mix four tablespoons of corn starch into half a cup of white vinegar. To that mixture add around two cups of warm water and the solution is ready for use.
A final word of caution to anyone who is planning to make their own windscreen wiper fluid. Do not, under any circumstances, mix bleach with any other products, as it could cause a dangerous chemical reaction. Not only that but it can be corrosive to parts of the vehicle.
