Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

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RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Here in Florida I've been getting along fine with 50/50 mix of vinegar and distilled water.

I only recommend distilled due to it's "cleaner'/clearer affect. Tap water can contain contaminates, contaminates that could scratch the windshield, get lodged in the washer reservoir/tubing, etc. or even scratch the windshield. Or, result in water spots, due to the "contaminants" it contains.

From what I've read ammonia is a big no-no for automotive solutions, the ammonia is prone to crack/dry plastics/rubber (to include the windshield rubber seal, that keeps it installed?

Can't forget the "plastic" or rubber bumper, which the washer fluid mixture is prone to drip down to (depending how fast you are going I guess, when you use the wipers lol).

And well, don't forget, your windshield wipers are plastic? or rubber, depending on the wiper, so ammonia will deteriorate the wiper too.

Now, I was "shopping around" for windshield washer fluid at my local walmart, and noticed the peak windshield & heavy duty bug cleaner with rain repellent product, and the ingredients listed:
Water 97-98% weight
Methanol less than or equal to 1% by weight
2-Butoxyethanol less than or equal to 1% by weight.

Well, it's our magic cleaner. This 2-butoxyethanol seems to creep up in everything nowadays, from "Degreasers" (Greased Lightning) to Carpet Cleaners (Tuff Stuff Upholstery Cleaner), and well. LA's Totally Awesome Concentrated Cleaner :P

Which brings me to the point. Add a dash (maybe a tsp or tbsp worth) of LA's Totally Awesome to your gallon of water (again, I'd recommend distilled), and then, maybe some alcohol (since we don't have methanol :P) - and well, the methanol is really a nil-issue. I'm guessing at that weight, the methanol is only there to help with de-icing, or stopping the solution from freezing, should a customer take the risk, of taking a vehicle with the stuff in it, to the cold north? :)

Note: I haven't tried this stuff, but at such a small dilution, I don't think the 2-ButoxyEthanol could cause much damage.

I know on my bottle of LA's Totally Awesome is states it can be used as a car wash, in a 50-1 ration, wash chrome at 10-1 ratio, General Cleaning at 10-1 ratio, clean heavy oiled surfaces at 5-1 ratio, remove Paint Oxidation at 5-1 ratio, clean plastic at 10-1 ratio, clean rust at 2-1 ratio, wax stripping at 5-1 ratio, and window cleaning, at 120-1 ratio.

Due to the low concentrate we would be using in this recipe (someone could probably figure out the ratio). I don't think it would be enough concentrate to "strip wax" - which would be _my_ primary concern. I wouldn't want to strip my wax finish every time I spray my windshield wipers :)

Though, doing the math, if you mixed up a 20 fl. oz. solution, you would only need 1 teaspoon in a 20 fl. oz. bottle to accomplish the 120-1 ratio which is noted as being "safe" for glass cleaning. Obviously though, your reservoir is likely bigger than 20 fl. oz. - but that could be a good starting point for experimentation :)

Post by ahoier

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I use Mormon hand soap, vinegar, and black gun powder. The hand soap gets the grime off the window, the Mormon kind does the best because it is pure. The vinegar has been used for 19 decades in the most fearsome battles so it should keep the water from freezing. The gun powder is only needed if your hand soap isn't really "pure" I'm not allowed to explain why but lets just say I haven't always used silk sheets.

Post by joseph smith

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I have determined the actual formula for a popular
premium washer fluid:

% by Weight

35% Methanol (wood alcohol)
63% Water
2% Automotive Antifreeze(also colors the fluid)

I have used this for many years with excellent results. Good to at least -40F

The key is methanol; the heavier alcohols such as Isopropyl require much higher percentages to work.
(Have to use about 70% by weight for 90% Isopropyl to have the same effect...cost is too high)

Post By Real Chemist (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I am in school right now and my task at hand is to figure out a way to make window washer fluid in the cheapest way possible. Any suggestions?

Post By Jeno (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

(submitted via email)
I am hoping this will work. We are having the first white Christmas since 1955. Not one bottle of windshield cleaner on this planet. Thank-you for the RX, to give a try until life gets back to wet and rain. We want a heat wave, but than we will be seeing some real flood issues!?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Robin

Post by jess

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Amazing! Winter windshield wash is selling for $3.00 and up around here while gas is $1.80. Think the washer solution is a little overpriced when it costs the manufactures about 15 cents a gallon to make?

Post By david (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I am up here in Montreal. Snow, ice and -35 are not uncommon. Because of our dependency on WWF, it sells for about 3$ a gal. That may on a good week last 3 to 5 days. Hence the motivation to look for the home brew. I found a manufacturer who has in his web site the formulas for about 5 grads of cleaner. The wetting agent the add in very small amounts help to reduce streaking. As a old school photographer, the term wetting is well known and was used to the same on film. A very cheap and concentrated product called "Photoflo". Hope this helps. info site: http://www.recochem.com/en/index.ph ... remium_washer_fluid_and_de_icer_45c/

Post By Chris (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I put some WWF I had in the garage in my almost empty fluid container in my car yesterday. The temps have dropped to 8 today. The fluid is freezing up at the nozzle end and I can't wash my windshield. It is very hazardous.

I've never had this happen before. Granted this cold snap is probably the coldest it has been for several winters. I looked at the jug and it doesn't say it is winter blend. I do have a diff jug with winter blend in it also.

I filled the car's container up to the brim. How can I drain it out, or can I add some alcohol or additive to make it not freeze?

Post By Liz (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

If you make the fluid with alcohol (Which by the way in these small amounts would take several years to deteriorate any hoses; I know because alcohol is has been used in gas here in Iowa for the last several decades with no adverse effects) make sure you use 70% isopropyl alcohol because the 50% mixture will cause solution to freeze even slushy results at 16 oz.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

If you make the fluid with alcohol (Which by the way in these small amounts would take several years to deteriorate any hoses; I know because alcohol is has been used in gas here in Iowa for the last several decades with no adverse effects) make sure you use 70% isopropyl alcohol because the 50% mixture will cause solution to freeze even slushy results at 16 oz.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

In Southern California I can't find WW antifreeze for mountain trips. Cost is not the issue. These are great suggestions.

Post By Art (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

The question is "are these ingredients safe for the paint on your car"?

Post By SHeryl (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Use alcohol and water in the military in helicopters. We used a 50/50 mix in the winter and it was cold never froze.

Post By mark (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

All the sudden ww fluid is no longer $1 a pop. It's like $2 on "sale"! Anyone know why?

I plan on going to water with food coloring and a smidge of dishwasher soap in the spring, but for now, with temps still sometimes drifting to 0 degrees F, not a good option.

Are there any sources of methyl alcohol (aka methanol)? I know isopropol is available, but someone suggested it was hard on hoses and seals and so forth.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I wonder if salt water might be a reasonable option. Salt is cheap, and I know salt water freezes below 32F. Just not sure where. Maybe there is some other non-corrosive mineral or compound that, dissolved in water, would lover the freezing point sufficiently to be of use?

Post By Mike C (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I want to know how to unfreeze, frozen windshiled washer lines ect... w/ out putting the vehicle in a heated garage?

Post By Stacy (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

1. Windex and water
2. Vinegar and ammonia
3. non-tap water (try distilled)

DO NOT use anything that can damage rubber, as the seals and pump hoses will break down.

Post By Mike Arienti (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I'm not looking for something cheaper. I live in Long Island NY and the stuff they sell just doesn't clean the grime off the windows without streaking, and it makes white marks all over the areas that get splashed while it is spraying that looks like salt residue. Please help!

Post By Arlene (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Be careful what you mix - I added Joy detergent and vinegar to my purchased blue fluid to help cut the grime of the windshield salt, here in Minnesota. Within a week I replaced the windshield wiper pump - it was frozen up. Another week, I replaced the rear window pump - it too was frozen. When was the last time you heard of these failing? I assume this mixture degraded the seal on the pump, and the fluid migrated into it.

Post By garagechuck (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

For a washer fluid to not freeze in temps down to -40C, the mixture would need to contain almost 70% methanol. This makes the mixture not only VERY flammable, but also very expensive for those without access to industrial chemical suppliers, where methanol can be purchased for considerably lower prices.

Post By Aris (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

You need methanol. And good luck gettin any. The price has tripled in recent months. So, if you see washer fluid, stock up on it now! It may run out this winter. You will be paying up to $4.00 per gallon
retail

Post By JB (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Here's how I used to do it, back in the days when Big Lots had 16oz bottles of 70% Isopropyl for a dollar...
Not sure if it's still profitable, the cost of the alcohol is the worst part, by the time it gets to $2 a bottle we're talking 50 cents just in this for mix.

Then it takes TIME, you know, time is not free, so the cost has to be at least 1/3 of what I'd pay at a store or I can just pick it up already made and save myself the hassle.

So then you need a BIG bottle of dish wash detergent, like Dawn but that's too expensive so get the cheapest brand you can find, Big Lots is good for this also thou the best I found was at Dollar General.
You need to calculate the cents per ounce, a good price is 4 cents per ounce or lower, so if it's a 24 ounce bottle it should cost no more than 96 cents.
Yes, cheapest soap, it will still work way better than you'd think.

Then you need some 1 gallon jugs, save your milk containers and anything else that fits 1 gallon, you want to make this stuff 4-6 or more gallons at a time or it's not profitable.

Then, teh formulae:
1 OZ of dish washing detergent
1/3 of a bottle of 70% isopropyl OR 1/4 bottle 90%
The rest water.
Yes, eyeballing is ok but watch it with the soap!

Works great, not sure how freeze resistant but it's way better than store bought washer fluid.
Have I used it?
LOL I been making it like that for 4 years now.

Post by 8307c4

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Here's how I used to do it, back in the days when Big Lots had 16oz bottles of 70% Isopropyl for a dollar. Not sure if it's still profitable, the cost of the alcohol is the worst part, by the time it gets to $2 a bottle we're talking 50 cents just in this for mix.

Also you need a BIG bottle of dish wash detergent, like Dawn but that's too expensive so get the cheapest brand you can find, Big Lots is good for this also thou the best I found was at Dollar General.
You need to calculate the cents per ounce, a good price is 4 cents per ounce or lower, so if it's a 24 ounce bottle it should cost no more than 96 cents.

Then you need some 1 gallon jugs, save your milk containers and anything else that fits 1 gallon, you want to make this stuff 4-6 or more gallons at a time or it's not profitable.

Then, the formula:
1 OZ of dish washing detergent
1/3 of a bottle of 70% isopropyl OR 1/4 bottle 90%
The rest water.
Yes, eyeballing is ok, but watch it with the soap!

Works great, not sure how freeze resistant but it's way better than store bought washer fluid.
Have I used it?
LOL I been making it like that for 4 years now.

Post By 8307c4 (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

ok i want something cheaper than actual winter windshield washer. i know sugar is less freezable but that would get sticky and streaky and pop with like 16 tablespoons in one can still does freeze, or salt but then you get rust. antifreeze would work, but i had a mechanic mistakingly put a 70% water, 30% antifreeze mix i had in the trunk in an old ww container (no label left) in to my ww tank and all that stuff does is smear.

someone suggested ammonia mixed at 10% i think but I've seen windex freeze (unless they are basically selling you water too) and I've noticed on the ww jug it says alcohol exempt. so what exactly is in there to keep it from freezing? also alcohol( don't know if meth, eth, or iso matters) wrecks the lines your ww goes through. my best guess so far is antifreeze and water, but maybe a little soap would help with the smearing

sorry if i repeated but i copy and pasted this response to other sites

Post By steve (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

menthynol 50% water 50% a few drops of dishwashing detrgent

Post By S Durf (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Methanol prices have soared, fluid is going routinely for $1.99a gallon. If you can make it for $1.00 a gallon or less then that's a good thing. I haven't seen 99 cent WW fluid in ages.

-bafflez

Post By Bafflez (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

Option one: 70% water to 30% non sudsing ammonia. non sudsing clear ammonia leaves no residue or detergents on your windshield. Ammonia wont freeze like water either. It wont damage your hoses or wipers over time. You may want to toss in a few ounces per gallon of vinegar as a fortifier. Vinegar will break down grime and also leave no residue. And it is a great deodorizer, not like you need deodorizer on your windshield but only to beak down grime. The ammonia is what, something like a buck a half gallon.

Post By Superman (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

May 10, 2007

Gentlemen,

Re.: Recipe for Windshield Antifreeze Washer Fluid

I live in Canada. I am interested to set-up a cottage (Small Scale) industry to produce and sell "Windshield Antifreeze Washer Fluid".

I will highly appreciate if someone can help me, also by charging appropriate fees. Thanks a lot in advance for an early reply and action at everyone's end.

Very best regards.

Ahsan Aziz Qamar
Ahsanazizqamar AT Gmail.com

Post by Ahsanazizqamar

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

What about vinager and water?

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I'm also from Denver, Colorado. During the last cold, slushy, dirty period, WWF supplies were running very low. I was out, the convenience store was out, but did have some rubbing alcohol, so I mixed up a batch on the spot in an empty WWF container. Bad idea (but better than nothing, I guess). Temps were running in the teens (F) that day and my mixture kept freezing on my windsheild.

Does anyone know what the commercial mixes use? Glycol, perhaps? If you used Propylene Glycol, you wouldn't have to worry about poisening animals (who sometimes lick it up, because it's sweet).

Post By Patrick from Denver (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

I also live in Colorado, and what I do to save is simply dilute regular washer fluid with water. With most of the stuff that gets on your windshield from the road, almost straight water works fine. The point of the alcohol in the store bought stuff is to reduce the freezing point, not as much for its cleaning ability. So with that said, the amount I dilute depends on what month it is.. Jan and Feb, I add little water, summer time I've used almost straight water (but usually don't go quite that far), and somewhere in between for the rest of the months. My car is garaged at night, so it stays a smidge above the outside temp.

Post By Jim (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

We're having a very cold & snowy winter in Colorado, and the commercial windshield washer fluid is out-of-stock at all the stores & warehouses. If rubbing alcohol is detrimental to the rubber parts, then does anyone have a source for methanol?

Post By Bill (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid

In New Zealand we dont have the extreme colds a tip one of the mechanics told me that i have used that works well is adding baby shampoo to the window washer as it is much milder than ordinary detergent maybe you could use that in the summer.
dont need very much.brent nz

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

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