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A good windshield wiper fluid is essential for both driving safety and a good driving experience. Not all, however, are created equal. Picking the best windshield wiper fluid can mean the difference between a squeaky-clean windshield and a streaky, grimy mess.
In this article, we will run down our picks for the ten best wiper fluids in the business.
Best Windshield Wiper Fluid FAQ
1. What Is Windshield Wiper Fluid?
Windshield wiper fluid is far more than just soap and water. It is specially formulated to not just clean glass, but to break down and clear it off bugs, dirt, and other grime.
2. What Makes a Good Windshield Wiper Fluid?
Not all windshield wiper fluids are the same. The worst cannot do a much better job of cleaning your windshield than a light rain, while the best can leave your windshield looking like it just went through a car wash. When looking for the best windshield wiper fluid, look for products that are formulated to break down the toughest dirt, and be sure to pick one that suits the climate you live in.
3. What Are the Key Differences Among the Best Windshield Wiper Fluids?
Some have antifreeze included as an ingredient so drivers in cold weather will not have to worry about choosing between a dirty windshield and a frozen one. Some of these even have a de-icer in them, so if sleet or freezing rain encases your car in ice you still will not have a problem.
Other windshield wiper fluid is suitable for mild or warm climates. Sometimes it comes in a bottle that can be poured directly into the windshield wiper fluid tank under your hood; other times it comes as a concentrate or even a tablet that must be mixed with water. Of course, they also come in a fairly wide price range. In this article, we will take all of these differences into account as we search for the best windshield wiper fluid.
How We Reviewed
For this list, we took into account not only the overall windshield cleaning performance of each product but also its features, price, and ease of use in an unbiased effort to present you with the ten absolute best windshield wiper fluid products on the market.
Overall Price Range
Windshield wiper fluid ranges in price from the five range up to around twenty dollars. The more expensive solutions tend to be pre-mixed so users can pour them directly from the bottle into their tank, while concentrates and tablets tend to be cheaper.
What We Reviewed
- Rain-X White RX11806D Washer Fluid Additive
- Prestone AS658-6PK Deluxe 3-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid
- 303 (230371) Instant Windshield Washer
- Nextzett 92100815 Kristall Klar Washer Fluid
- Prestone AS250-6PK De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid
- Prestone AS657 Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid
- BMW Windshield Washer Concentrate
- Aqua Charge Windshield Washer Ultra Concentrate
- Sonax (386141) Clear View Windshield Washer
- Gunk M506 6 Ounce Automotive Accessories
1.) Rain-X White RX11806D Washer Fluid Additive
Features
Rain-X White RX11806D Washer Fluid Additive is a unique product in thatit is made to be added to washer fluid rather than to an empty fluid tank. It is made with a special formula that repels water, causing it to bead and roll off of your windshield with ease. It also assists your existing windshield wiper fluid with removing dirt, bugs, snow, and ice.
A little bit from a 16.9 fluid ounce bottle can go a long way, which means you can stretch its already-low price over multiple uses. The only downside to this product is that it can leave streaks and smudges on the glass; but the tradeoff is more than worth it.
Price $
Where to Buy
You can find this washer fluid additive on Amazon by clicking here.
You can also find it on Rain-X’s website.
2.) Prestone AS658-6PK Deluxe 3-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid
Features
Prestone AS658-6PK Deluxe 3-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid earns its place among the best windshield wiper fluid thanks to its all-season versatility and overall cleaning ability. This solution comes in a one-gallon bottle that can be purchased online as a single bottle or in packs of up to six; but as a pre-mixed solution it costs a little more than many other products on this list.
However, this also means you do not have to mix it with anything before pouring it into the tank, which earns it points for ease of use.
Prestone Deluxe 3-in-1 is worth the extra cash. It can withstand frigid temperatures all the way down to -27°F and contains a de-icer to get any ice frozen onto your windshield to melt away. It also contains a bug wash that can handle even the toughest of caked-on residue, and it caps it all off with a water repellant that keeps streaks and glare at bay.
Price $$$
Where to Buy
You can see the current price for this item on Amazon by clicking here.
You can also find this product on Walmart’s site.
3.) 303 (230371) Instant Windshield Washer
Features
303 Instant Windshield Washer comes in tablet form. Each tablet can make one gallon of windshield wiper fluid, and with twenty-five tablets in each ten-dollar pack you get a lot of bang for your buck. They also have the benefit of being easy to carry around and store in your trunk or glove compartment; if you run out of wiper fluid, all you need is some water and you are back in business. But does all this convenience come at the cost of quality?
303’s tablets work surprisingly well. While the packaging claims each tablet has three times the cleaning power of a pre-mixed solution, we did not quite find that to be the case. The mixed wiper fluid does a great job handling dirt and grime but did not fare so well against bugs. In addition, these tablets do not contain an anti-freeze ingredient, which means you will have to pick one up separately if you live in a colder climate.
There are some positives to the tablet form, though. These are non-toxic and biodegradeable, so your conscience will be clear each time you clean your windshield. These tablets are also safe on paint and rubber, which will keep your car in good shape. If you live in a warm climate and do not do much highway driving, 303 Instant Windshield Washer tablets are a great value.
Price $
Where to Buy
You can find this item on Amazon by clicking here.
It can also be found on Walmart’s site.
4.) Nextzett 92100815 Kristall Klar Washer Fluid
Features
Nextzett Kristall Klar Washer Fluid is one of the highest-rated windshield washer fluid products available on Amazon, but does that mean it is actually one of the best? It is a concentrate, so you have to mix it with water before using it. Fortunately, each bottle can make twelve gallons of wiper fluid, making it a good value.
Kristall Klar Washer Fluid does a good job of removing dirt, grime, and even bugs without leaving streaks behind. It also includes a lubricant, which helps keep your wipers from shuddering as they scrape across your windshield. Finally, it features a water softener to prevent hard water mineral buildup, which can clog wiper fluid jets if allowed to get out of control.
Being an ammonia-free formula, is also does no damage to paint, rubber, or chrome. The only significant downside to this product is that it is not for use in cold weather, although manufacturer Nextzett does offer an antifreeze additive at an additional price.
Price $
Where to Buy
You can find this windshield washer fluid on Amazon by clicking here.
You can also find it on Nextzett’s site.
5. Prestone AS250-6PK De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid
Features
Prestone De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid may not have the versatility of the manufacturer’s 3-in-1 formula, but it makes up for it by being a bit cheaper. It freezes at the same -27°F that the 3-in-1 does, and it can quickly melt ice and frost buildup from your windshield so you will not have to scrape it manually. It also includes a hydrophobic additive to prevent streaks and keep road spray from sticking to the windshield.
If there is a downside to this product, it is the high methanol content, which may give the environmentally-conscious pause. This additive is included to prevent the fluid from freezing, though, so it is a vital ingredient and less of an environmental issue than other anti-freezing additives.
Price $$
Where to Buy
You can find this washer fluid on Amazon by clicking here.
You can also learn more about it on Prestone’s website.
6. Prestone AS657 Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid
Features
Prestone’s Bug Wash Windshield Wiper Fluid is, like their De-Icer formula, a single-minded alternative to their more expensive 3-in-1 formula. It is still pricier than tablets or concentrates, but the higher price gets you a high-powered cleaner that can cut through bugs, bird droppings, dirt, dust, and grime with relative ease. It claims to be capable of breaking down and cleaning away 99.9% of all bugs.
Like other Prestone Windshield Washer Fluids, it includes a hydrophobic additive that forces water to bead and roll off of the windshield, keeping rain and road spray from causing dense streaks on the glass. The downside to this product, of course, is that it does not work in cold climates because it lacks an antifreeze component.
Price $$
Where to Buy
You can find this Prestone windshield cleaner on Amazon by clicking here.
You can also find it on their website.
BMW Windshield Washer Concentrate
Features
BMW’s Windshield Wiper Concentrate must be mixed with water. Each bottle is one pint, and BMW recommends four ounces of concentrate per sixty gallons of water, which equals just about two uses per bottle. That leaves it as one of the more expensive products among the concentrates and tablets on this list, but it is still more than affordable.
It removes dirt and bugs quickly and leaves no streaks behind. Its antifreeze abilities leave something to be desired, though; this product only works down to 26°F.
Price $
Aqua Charge Windshield Washer Ultra Concentrate
Features
This product is one of Amazon’s more popular windshield wiper fluid concentrates, not least of all due to its sheer value. One quart of this concentrate can make a whopping fifty-five gallons of wiper fluid, making it one of the best values and placing it among the best windshield wiper fluids on our list. It cleans windshields with a streak-free shine and cuts through tough customers like bugs and bird droppings.
It lacks any antifreeze component, so if you want to use it in cold weather, you will have to add methanol yourself. For those willing to put in a big of extra work though, this product offers a great value.
Price $
Where to Buy
You can find the current price for this windshield cleaner on Amazon by clicking here.
You can also find it on Walmart as well (although they often seem to be out of stock of this item).
Sonax (386141) Clear View Windshield Washer
Features
Sonax Clear View Windshield Washer is another concentrated solution. This one can provide six gallons of fluid per 8.45 ounce bottle, which makes it a solid bargain. This product does a solid job of providing a streak-free shine on any type of glass, but we found it had some difficulty cutting through bugs and other tough-to-tackle grime. This wiper fluid is also made for warmer climates; it does not have an antifreeze component.
Price $
Gunk M506 6 Ounce Automotive Accessories
Features
Gunk’s wiper fluid concentrate is an ammonia-based formula that does a good job of removing dirt, grime, and even bugs. It comes in a small bottle at a slightly higher price than some of its competitors, and each bottle offers only a single use. If you want a small bottle of concentrate for emergencies or simply do not want to waste anything, this product might be suitable for you.
It has no frills, but it works well, is affordable, and can tackle tough windshield messes down to 18°F.
Price $$
The Verdict
It’s tough to go wrong with any of these products, provided you read the label and get one that suits your climate. Overall, it should come as no surprise that Prestone Deluxe 3-in-1 stands tall as the best windshield wiper fluid.
If you want a compact package to keep in your car, 303’s products are good picks. A few on this list are more environmentally friendly than others. No matter your pick, you are sure to be happy with any of these ten products.