Our 5 Picks For The Best Windshield Washer Fluids (2023)
Source: Pixabay
Having a clean windshield isn’t just lovely to look at, but it’s a crucial part of a safe driving experience. However, as a driver, many things can prevent you from having a clean windshield – dust, dirt, debris, mud, and bugs, to name a few. If you want to ensure that your wiper gets the job done and keeps a clean view of the road, you need the best windshield washer fluid.
The windshield wiper fluid is a product that most people probably don’t bother thinking about. But who can blame them? Some fluid products might as well be water for how ineffective they are. However, the best windshield washer fluid effectively breaks down dust, dirt, debris, and bug carcasses, giving you an unobstructed view of the road.
Below, we gathered the top picks for the best windshield washer fluids for your convenience. These selections are based on a combination of performance, availability, usability, and value. Let’s get to it!
1. Prestone Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid
Price: $14 (2-pack)
While we all cherish the sunny weather during summer, it also happens to be bug season. This means you’ll have to deal with bugs crashing into your vehicle’s windshield, and we all know bug guts are quite hard to remove, especially when left unattended and dried out. Fortunately, many specially-formulated windshield wiper fluids are designed to break down bugs on the windshield, and the best one is the green-colored Prestone Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid.
While it’s designed for windshield bug removal, the Prestone Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid also works for road grime, bird droppings, and tree sap – so it’s an all-around cleaner. It’s also specially formulated to repel rain, dirt, and bugs and prevent them from sticking in the first place. Furthermore, it’s also safe to use with rain-sensing windshield wipers. Finally, the green Prestone Bug Wash is pre-mixed, so there’s no need to dilute it with water.
Product Features:
- Removes bug residue, road grime, bird droppings, and tree sap
- Water-beading technology
- Safe for rain-sensing windshield wipers
- The formula creates a barrier to stop bugs from sticking
2. Rain-X 2 in 1 All Season
Price: $25.99 (2-pack)
Although Rain-X is known for its wiper blades, the company also offers excellent cleaning products, including the Rain-X 2 in 1 All Season windshield wiper fluid. The main draw of this product is obviously its all-season purpose, meaning you can use it all year long. Because of that, this all-season heavy cleaner is a bit more expensive than many products featured here – however, the price tag is more than worth it since you don’t have to buy other products.
The orange liquid will do wonders for breaking down dirt, road grime, and bugs, and its zero-streak formula means you’ll have a clear view of the road after cleaning. It also uses water-beading technology, which repels water effectively and is super handy during the rainy season. The all-season formula also ensures that this product doesn’t freeze during winter.
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Product Features:
- Removes light snow, ice, grime, and bugs
- Uses water-beading technology
- All-season formulation
- Zero-streak formula
3. Qwix Mix Rain Shield Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate
Price: $26.99
The Qwix Mix Rain Shield Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate is a concentrated liquid product that needs to be mixed with water. While it does add another step, it’s a relatively simple product that you can customize based on various potencies. For this reason, Qwix Mix
is the best windshield washer fluid in terms of value for the money – it’s like you’re buying your liquid in bulk.
Fortunately, Qwix Mix also delivers cleaning efficacy. This product is mainly used during the summer and does a great job of cleaning dirt, road filth, and bird droppings so you can get a clear view of the road ahead. However, you can easily add methanol to the mixture for wintertime blends. It’s also a greener product as it’s biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
Product Features:
- Prevent and remove dirt, road filth, and bird droppings
- It comes with a measuring bottle
- 8 oz. bottle makes 32 gallons
- You can add methanol for wintertime blends
4. nextzett Kristall Klar Washer Fluid Concentrate
Price: $13.40 (on sale)
The nextzett Kristall Klar Washer Fluid Concentrate is another concentrate product and a definite fan-favorite. One bottle of this product can make 13 gallons of high-performance washer fluid. It boasts an ammonia-free, highly concentrated formula that quickly removes road grime, brake dust, oil, and dirt. Plus, it’s also a bug remover, making it an ideal mix for the summer. There’s no smear or glare, so your windshield looks crystal clear.
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The softeners and lubricants in Kristall Klar also help reduce premature damage to your vehicle’s water pump. According to various customer reviews, the product also prevents wiper skipping and shuttering. Unfortunately, the formula doesn’t have freeze protection, but you can mix in nextzett’s Anti-Frost for anti-freeze protection so you can use it in winter.
Product Features:
- No smearing and no glare formula
- Reduces wiper skipping and shuddering
- Water softeners prevent hard water build-up
- Ammonia free
5. Prestone Deluxe 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid
Price: $16.84 (2-pack)
The Prestone Deluxe 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid is another solid pick for the best windshield washer fluid product, thanks to its all-season formulation. This windshield washer fluid removes bugs, dirt, and road grime. Plus, the all-season product keeps your windshield clean during the winter with its frost-free formula.
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It also boasts a water beading technology that repels water, which comes in handy during rain storms. Furthermore, it’s also safe to use with rain-sensing windshield wipers. Aside from its excellent results, the Prestone Deluxe 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid delivers good value for the money. It’s one of those one-and-done products you can buy and forget about. Overall, Prestone’s 2-in-1 windshield washer fluid offers a great combination of efficacy and value.
Product Features:
- Offers all-year protection
- Quickly remove bugs, dirt, and road grime
- Rain beading technology for repelling water
- All Season formula helps keep your windshield frost-free to -27°F (-33°C)
Should You Refill Your Windshield Washer Fluid?
Having a dirty windshield while driving can reduce your visibility, increasing the risk of getting into an accident. Windshield washers ensure that your windshield is clean and provides a good unobstructed view of the road.
There’s no maintenance schedule associated with your windshield washer fluid. This is a good thing since washer fluids don’t deteriorate, unlike motor oil. However, that doesn’t mean you should not top up this fluid. In general, having your vehicle serviced for maintenance (e.g., oil changes) in a dealership will also take care of the windshield washer fluid – but it varies by dealership.
So when should you refill your windshield washer fluid? Since this fluid is unlikely to get contaminated or be filled with debris, you can fill it up on a semi-regular basis. If you’re using the windshield wiper fluid more frequently, you should probably top it off sooner rather than later. Don’t wait until you completely run out of windshield fluids because you’ll be putting yourself at unnecessary risk.
As mentioned, your mechanic or dealership can refill your windshield wiper for you. Or you can simply go DIY by opening the hood and finding the windshield wiper fluid reservoir cap.
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