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3 Top Windshield Washer Fluid Comparison Chart
The best Windshield washer wiper fluid is one of those products that are as common as gas stations, leading you to think that they are all the same.
The fact is that the best windshield washer fluid works to save you time and money while keeping your windshield clear all year long. Not all of the jugs of fluid are created equal.
Which one is right for you?
We’ve brought together a quick buying guide and product review to help you determine what you should look for when shopping for the best windshield wiper fluid.
Read on to learn all about quality windshield washer fluid and what is just not worth your time.
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5 Best Windshield Washer Fluids Reviewed
How To Choose The Best Windshield Washer Fluid
Price
When shopping for the best windshield washer fluid, you will want to consider cost, where you live, and the conditions you will be driving through.
If you are going skiing, it’s time to switch to a fluid that won’t freeze in the colder temperatures. Maybe you drive a really small car and don’t have room to carry around a full gallon jug.
If you want to mix your own but have particularly hard water at home, will you be able to make an effective blend? If you cruise the coast only when it is sunny outside, you may want to look for a preventative treatment that resists dirt and sheds water.
Before opening your wallet, know exactly what you want the product to do and what it is really intended to do during inclement weather.
Read The Label
Whether you are picking up a concentrate or a ready-to-use mix, take some time to read what ingredients are included in your washer fluid. Most include methanol, which is considered a toxic chemical but is very effective at lowering the freezing point of the fluid so that it continues to work in cold climates.
The label will say if it is rated down to 32F, 0F, or even -10F. The lower the rating, the more methanol is mixed into the jug. If you opt for a concentrate, it will not include the toxic methanol.
What Are The Types Of Windshield Washer Fluids
There are more than one or two jugs of washer fluid found at your auto parts store. Let’s check out how they work and what they are not designed to do.
The Blue Jug
This is the windshield washer fluid you find at the checkout of your grocery store, in pyramids of gallons at the gas station, or your local bargain shop. It contains methanol, water, and some blue coloring.
It does a good job of wiping away dust, pollen, and road grime that collects on your windshield. Affordable and easy to find.
Concentrates
If you like the job the blue jug does but don’t want to store gallons in your garage, you might want to look at windshield wiper concentrate. You mix it up when you need to fill your washer reservoir.
When you follow the instructions, it provides the same performance that the pre-mixed jug version does. You may save a few pennies over several refills, but you have to take some time to mix it up.
It is likely that if you opt for concentrate and live in cold climates, you will also need to add alcohol to lower the freezing point of your mixture-which increases cost, time, and the potential to mix the wrong chemicals together.
De-Icer vs. Winter Mix
In the fall, the jugs of wiper fluid change color at the store. These are usually winter mixes that have a higher concentration of methanol or alcohol which lowers the freezing temperature of the liquid.
If you live in the north, look for a mix that is good down to -10F. On the same shelf, you may find smaller bottles that are de-icers. These are nearly straight alcohol and will melt frost with a quick spray.
However, it is not an effective cleaner and may leave a fog on your glass. Do not fill up the reservoir with straight de-icer.
Windshield Treatments
In the same aisle with the wiper fluid, you will find windshield treatments. These are not cleaners. They are applied using a spray bottle and dry clear leaving a film on the glass that effectively sheds water so you don’t need to use your wipers as often.
They are great when you live in the south or in the summer, but are mostly a waste of money once winter falls. The salt and sand quickly degrade the treatment.
If you are in need of new windshield wipers, check out the incredibly detailed review guide here at Royamechanic.com
5 Best Windshield Washer Fluid Reviews
Here’s a list of the best windshield washer fluids we found on the market:
1. Prestone Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid
This pre-mixed jug of washer fluid adds some green dye to set it apart from the competition, and so it should.
This could be the best windshield washer fluid if you suffer from summer storms of flying insects that crash into your car.
It has an effective detergent added to the usual mix of water and methanol so that sap, road grime, and dead bugs wash away when you activate your wipers.
They have also added an anti-fogging ingredient, so it leaves behind a crystal clear window.
It is a bit pricier compared to the bargain jugs at the checkout but does have added performance. Since bugs only are a problem in warmer weather, it is not an anti-freeze formula. You will want to switch to a winter formula after the leaves fall.
Pros:
- Extra detergent breaks down dead bugs stuck to the windshield
- Avoids streaking and fog
- Includes a treatment to prevent bugs from sticking
Cons:
- Summer formula-will freeze
- Twice the price of regular washer fluid
2. nextzett Kristall Klar Washer Fluid
Now, if you don’t mind mixing your own and want to save a little cash compared to the pre-mix, Kristall Klar is the best windshield washer for you.
This tiny bottle is super concentrated and will mix up into 12 gallons of washer fluid. It was formulated for a European car manufacturer and promises effective cleaning without streaking or fogging your windows.
It does not include methanol, a toxic ingredient found in most competitors and has a pleasant odor.
Now, when mixing it make sure to fill the mixing jug or the reservoir slowly as it will foam up when mixed under pressure. You may have to wait for the foam to go down before replacing the reservoir cap.
If you want it to work in the winter, you will need to add alcohol which will increase your cost. Finally, if you have hard water, this unique formula may not work at all. So, if you don’t mind mixing and taking a risk, this could well be worth the gamble.
Pros:
- Low price per use
- Eco-friendly ingredients
- Cleans well
Cons:
- Foams up when mixing
- Not rated for freezing
- Water quality greatly affects the final product
3. RainX Yellow Windshield Treatment
If you want to stop the rain from leaving white spots on your windshield, then RainX Windshield Treatment may be the right choice for your fair weather cruiser.
You would not want to call this the best windshield washer fluid, because it is not designed to clean anything.
Spray your windshield with an even application and the next time you are driving through a storm, watch the water roll off your windshield without streaking. You might be able to leave the wipers off.
While it works wonders for visibility, you do have to reapply it once a month as regular road conditions will degrade it over time. The bottle should last you for a year or so, so it’s a reasonable return on your dollar.
Pros:
- Promotes water beading and runoff
- Prevents water spots
- Improves visibility during storms
Cons:
- Is NOT a windshield cleaner
- Requires reapplication once a month
4. Instant Windshield Washer
They are always telling us that you don’t want to pay for water. The Instant Windshield Washer certainly takes the award for the best windshield washer fluid in that department.
These are tablets that you dissolve in a gallon of water to create a good cleaning product.
They win the lottery for the lowest price per use and do an effective job at washing away dirt, pollen, and dead bugs.
If you have some winter-worthy fluid that doesn’t clean that well, add one of these tablets to get the results you really want without freezing.
Now, you do have to keep the tablets in an airtight container or they will start to fall apart during humid summer weather. On the other hand, your mixed up fluid will freeze unless you add alcohol or another winter-ready mix.
The tablet does take a while to dissolve, so if you want to fill up your tank right now, you are going to have to wait.
Pros:
- Very low price
- Cleans away bugs and road grime
- Easy upgrade for winter washer fluid
Cons:
- Must be mixed by you-takes time to dissolve the tablet
- Not good for cold climates
- Tablets will degrade in humid climates
5. Aqua Charge Windshield Washer Ultra Concentrate
Now, the Aqua Charge bottle might look like a great bargain in the running for the best windshield washer fluid, but it isn’t.
It is super concentrated and the label says that it can mix up to 55 gallons of fluid.
You are paying less than fifty cents per use, which seems great when you compare cost and effectiveness to that cheap jug of premix at the store. Now for the bad news.
It also has a super-concentrated blue dye, which is very attractive, but it is ready to turn anything it touches blue-including your car.
You won’t have that problem if you carefully measure out a couple tablespoons into your jug and then add water, but make sure you are wearing gloves and an apron while you do it.
For all that worry about saving your skin, it works a little better than straight water. If you can mix up a 50-gallon barrel at once, it might be worth the frustration. Otherwise, you will be wanting to find another option.
Pros:
- Low cost per use
- Mixes up to 55 gallons of washer fluid
- Works as well as the jugs
Cons:
- Blue dye can stain skin or your car
- Foams up when mixing
- Low user rating
So, Which Is The Best Windshield Washer Fluid?
If you are looking for reliable performance that is super simple to use, the Prestone Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid earns its spot as the best windshield washer fluid.
It is a little more expensive but does a great job at scrubbing that tought road grime from your window. If you want to save a few pennies and don’t mind mixing it yourself, Kristal Klar delivers a quality product in a compact bottle.
We hope that you found this buying guide and product review useful in finding the right washer fluid for your purposes. If you have additional insight on any of these products, simply drop a comment in the box below or give us a shout out on your social media page.
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