Homemade windshield washer fluid?

[Shimmer1]

Next up, homemade salt water

[afnamvet]

A passenger with Windex and paper towels.

[IMTOFT]

I used to have a great book on using Dow Glycol Ethers - not sure where it is, but it was a wealth of information on detergents, glass cleaners, etc. If I remember correctly, (and there’s only about a 20% chance of that), about 85% water, 15% butyl carbitol and a small amount of a surfactant. I don’t think sodium laurel sulfate would work - probably too much foam, so you might want a less active surfactant.

All said and done, probably easier to buy the stuff at Wal-Mart. We looked at making and marketing a series of cleaning products several years ago - just not worth it these days.

[goodtomato]

Welcome to Florida.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

1/2 part Bacardi 151.

1/2 part Coca-Cola.

Ice to suit.

Park car in garage and sit by wood stove until March.

[Paleo Conservative]

Rain-X, by the orange gallon. Don’t need to use much. Not so good at cleaning off mud though. Great for all else.

I just tried out Rain-X wiper fluid and am very impressed. I dilute wiper fluid 1:1 with water by volume. I live in south Texas and don't need to worry about the making the freezing point 40 below zero.

[Paladin2]

I especially appreciate the clearer vision through the windshield at night when it’s raining.

[Paladin2]

By use, I am referring to how often to run the squirters. I don’t dilute it, but only use ~a gallon+ per year.

[moondoggie]

White vinegar and water.....

[Young Werther]

Airdraft oprrators have a simple deicer for preparing an aircraft during wintery weather.

UREA

Keep a bottle by the toilet!

[theBuckwheat]

We have a whole-house reverse osmosis system. But you can buy R/O or distilled water at WallyWorld for a buck. When freezing is not an issue, I just put a few squirts of a good dishwashing detergent like Ivory in a gallon of R/O or distilled water.

You can use tap water, but it contains minerals that will be left behind on the glass when the fluid evaporates. When you have a real rain, you need the rain drops to “wet” the glass so they will be wiped off cleanly with the wiper. Using R/O or distilled water washes off anything on the glass that will dissolve in water.

For freezing weather, I just buy a commercial product that contains alcohol at WallyWorld. The only issue I have is that it appears they dilute the alcohol with water that has minerals in it. It quickly builds up quite a film that takes a while to wear off with the wiper blades.

[SamAdams76]

I don't know about a homemade recipe for windshield washer fluid but I can share a recipe for macaroni & cheese that we use in our household - sure beats buying that overpriced Kraft macaroni & cheese you see in the supermarkets...

In a large skillet, pour in a pound of elbow macaroni, cover with water and bring to boil. Mix in a half pound of Velveeta cheese and stir until cooked. Makes four servings.

[dusttoyou]

In the early 80’s had a part-time job delivering mobile homes to New Orleans after one of the hurricanes. Sometimes would run into swarms of lovebugs which would blind the windshield. Even soapy water wouldn't touch those juicy bad boys, but when they got too bad would stop and get a bottle of Coke and spray most on the windshield and it would cut the lovebugs!

[seton89]

Making Homemade Laundry Soap

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jim, can we have a FR Home Ec section?

[TNdandelion]

Vodka doesn’t freeze.

[dfwddr]

13 cups equals 1 gallon ????

Is this an 0bama gallon or what ???

[nutmeg]

we hit central Florida smack in the middle of Love Bug season

Good grief... what is "Love Bug season"? What are Love Bugs? :-O

[NautiNurse]

Love bugs

[nutmeg]

Ewww... a double-headed bug! They have their own “season” in Florida? Hope it’s a short one... ;-)