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The best windshield washer fluid: When it’s time to refill your car’s reservoir, there are many brands and types of windshield washer fluid available on the market, but not all are created equal. If you want to ensure that your vehicle’s windshields perform to their maximum capacity, you should consider the weather challenges of the area you live in, your driving pattern, and the places you drive before purchasing a washer fluid.
Does it matter which windshield washer fluid to use?
If you think that choosing the best windshield washer fluid doesn’t matter much, I hope this review helps you change your mind.
Windshield washer fluids may seem like simple products that many car owners don’t even bother to give a second thought to. For most of them, the whole process revolves around simply opening the hood, locating the tank, removing the cap, and pouring whatever fluid is on hand until it reaches the fill line. You too could be guilty of this.
But in case you haven’t noticed, choosing the best windshield washer fluid is important, especially during colder weather when keeping your windshield clean is crucial.
Which windshield washer fluid is better?
1. Prestone AS658 Deluxe 3-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid
If you are passionate about road trips like me, and your journeys go through different climatic areas, Prestone As 658 Deluxe might be your ideal choice of windshield washer.
I discovered Prestone earlier this year when the last of my windshield washer fluid froze solid during a ski trip to Aspen. After using AS658 Deluxe for almost a year, I can say that I am very pleased with the high quality of this washer fluid and how well it works to keep my windshield clean.
Although slightly more expensive than similar pre-mixed products on the market, Prestone is easy to use, does not need to be mixed with water, and is very efficient at cleaning bugs, bird droppings, and dirt from windshields. And the best thing is that you can use it all year round, no matter what the weather is like or how cold it is. So if you’re wondering “What is the best winter windshield washer fluid?”, I would definitely say this one!
Overall, I couldn’t find fault with Prestone AS658 Deluxe 3-in-1, so I’m giving it a rating of 10 out of 10. 2.
Rain-X Windshield Washer Fluid
“Is Rain-X Windshield Washer Fluid any good?” is a question I often get from people trying to decide between the different types of windshield cleaning products available today, which is why I decided to include it in this review.
Rain-X Windshield Washer is an all season product that I have been using on and off for the last 5 years. After so many years, you might think that I really like this wiper. Okay I will! To me this is one of the best windshield washer fluid money can buy. And most of the people I recommend it to were also very satisfied with its performance.
What I like best about Rain-X is that it is a very versatile product, which works well on almost everything. It cleans the windshield very well, does not leave streaks, removes insects, road grime, salt, light snow and frost, and maintains its performance even in temperatures below 20 degrees. And all this at a very reasonable price.
I rate this product a 9 out of 10.
3. Nextzett 92100815 Kristall Klar Washer Fluid 1:200 Concentrate
Nextzett 92100815 Kristall Klar Washer Fluid is a fan favorite, with thousands of reviews on Amazon. I was curious what all the fuss was about, so I bought this product last week to try it out. So these are my initial thoughts:
- This highly concentrated, ammonia-free windshield washer fluid is advertised as being great at removing bug splatter, brake dust, oil, and grime. And this is not a lie. I used it during a country trip and I have to say that it cleaned about 90% of all dirt from the windshield, leaving no white streaks.
- You need to mix it with water and an 8.5 oz bottle will make about 12.75 gallons of windshield washer fluid, which will last you quite a while.
- It is non-toxic and is also biodegradable, making it an eco-friendly option.
Although it’s too early to see how it performs during cold weather, so far this product seems unexpectedly good. I’ll be sure to update my review once I get to try it out during bad weather as well.
So far, I rate Nextzett 92100815 Kristall Klar Washer Fluid an 8 out of 10.
4. HS 29.606 Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid
If you live in a warm area and want a ready-to-use, water-repellent product that cleans your window very well and removes tree sap, dirt and road grime instantly, HS 29.606 Bug Wash is worth a try
. Although this washer fluid has a lot of good features, I can’t say it’s the best out there. It’s hard to justify its price compared to its performance. At $14 for less than 4 liters, and considering that this product will freeze instantly once temps drop below 32 F, it’s hard for me to recommend it over others.
But don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying Bug Wash is a bad product. No problem. Just be sure to remember when you buy it that this one is specifically formulated to be used only in the summer.
With that being said, I am rating the HS 29.606 Bug Wash Windshield a 7 out of 10.
5. Aqua Charge Windshield Washer Ultra Concentrate
Used by many auto repair shops and also recommended by Amazon as one of their best windshield products, Aqua Charge It is a highly concentrated windshield washer fluid. One bottle of Aqua Charge creates 55 gallons of premium cleaning fluid, making this product extremely cost effective. But this would be pretty much all I have to say about this product.
I have to say I was a bit surprised to see hundreds of positive reviews and read all the good things people were saying about the Aqua Charge. For me, it was one of the worst wipers I’ve ever used. Not only does it not clean very well for a super concentrated product, but it also leaves marks all over the glass which makes it incredibly difficult to handle.
Based on my experience with it, I would rate the Aqua Charge Windshield Washer Ultra Concentrate a 4 out of 10.
6. 303 Instant Windshield Washer
It was a little hard to believe when we opened the shipping box, but 303 Instant Windshield Washer Tablets packed 25 gallons. into 25 tablets the size of four stacked quarts. The plastic storage tube fits easily in most glove boxes, and each tablet makes one gallon of windshield washer fluid. The tablets can be dropped into the washer fluid reservoir or mixed separately.
We put a few tablets in the glass container here to show the instant windshield washer fluid process. The tablets dissolved in approximately one minute and left no sediment. Road vibes finished the blending process in no time, and the instant mix performed just as well as any of the pre-mixed or concentrated summer varieties.
Minus the plastic packaging and fuel used to transport gallons of windshield washer fluid across the continent helps dry tablets make a lot more ecological sense. Just keep the tablets dry until it’s time for effervescent action. 303 Instant Windshield Washer Fluid Tablets are formulated for summer use. Add methylated spirits to make a winter mix.
7. Prestone De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid
While Prestone All Season Windshield Washer Fluid is capable of providing winter protection, you may live in an area with harsh winter conditions. That’s where the company’s De-Icer windshield washer fluid, designed specifically for winter use, comes into play. Freezes to the same -27°F (-32°C) as the 3-in-1 solution, but is designed to quickly remove ice and frost from your windshield.
The solution is high in methanol, along with ethylene glycol, to prevent dangerous refreezing. Like other Prestone windshield washer fluids, De-Icer leaves a durable hydrophobic shield on the glass, helping to prevent road spray from sticking.
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