Best Windshield Washer Fluids in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 4, 2024
Looking for a reliable high-performance windshield washer fluid but feel somewhat bewildered by a variety of products available on the market? To help you with your choice, below, we've selected the best windshield washer fluids so you can check out what the market offers and find a proper cleaning agent that will suit your vehicle most. ...Read more ...Read less
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PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Volume
Extras
Warranty
 
PROS

For the summer season, this fluid can be mixed with water in 1:20 proportion, meaning you'll need to mix just 50 ml with 1 litre of water to get a highly-effective windscreen solution. 

CONS

It's a little inconvenient to fill into the washer tank.

OUR VERDICT

Considering that one bottle of the Glimmermann Extreme Winter Washer contains 20 litres of fluid concentrate, it's one of the best offerings for car services or those families with multiple vehicles that often buy in bulk.

detailed parameters
Type

All-season (Effective in undiluted form down to -20°C)

Volume

20 litres

Extras

Streak-free formula, Removes road grime, bug residue, tree sap and bird droppings

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

This car washing solution is free of methanol and other chemicals that may harm the respiratory tract. The formula is also biodegradable, so it's absolutely safe for the environment.

CONS

Some users find the smell a bit too strong.

OUR VERDICT

The Krafft Washer Fluid is a ready-to-use solution praised for its innovative water-repellent formula, making the raindrops bead up and run off your windscreen. It can also be used as a washer for headlights, keeping them clear for longer.

detailed parameters
Type

All-season (Effective in undiluted form down to -9°C)

Volume

5 litres

Extras

Streak-free and water-repellent formula, Removes road grime, bug residue, tree sap and bird droppings

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

A little goes a long way - 25 ml of this concentrate makes 2.5 l cleaning fluid. For easy diluting, the bottle has a dosage reservoir with measuring markings at the top.

CONS

The dilution process takes considerable time.

OUR VERDICT

This is a super-concentrated screen wash mix that lets you vary the cleaning strength depending on the road conditions. It comes in a small tub that is great for those individuals who are tight on storage space or just want to be neat.

detailed parameters
Type

Summer (use above 0°C)

Volume

0.25 litre of concentrate (makes 25 litres)

Extras

Measuring markings, Removes road grime, oil, soot, silicone, insects

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

Ergonomically shaped, this bottle will let you accurately pour the liquid right into the washer reservoir of your car without spilling a drop. The wash has a pleasant, unobtrusive smell.

CONS

It takes a good while to dry.

OUR VERDICT

If you often drive in the rain or snow, the Rain-X additive can become a game-changer. It significantly improves the hydrophobic coating of the screen, making water drops to bead up and run off. So, better visibility is guaranteed.

detailed parameters
Type

All-season (Effective in the undiluted form down to -20°C)

Volume

0.5 litre

Extras

Streak-free formula, Removes road grime, bug residue, tree sap and bird droppings

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

It's suitable for fan nozzles and can be safely used in a car washing tunnel. It contains a special limescale protection formula that decreases the precipitation of hard mixing water.

CONS

A bit overpriced.

OUR VERDICT

The BMW Genuine Car Care Windscreen Washer effectively removes all types of dirt including insect remains, pollen, car wax residues and potentially dangerous greasy films without smearing. Dilutes in a 1:100 ratio.

detailed parameters
Type

All-season (Effective down to -20°C)

Volume

0.05 litre of concentrate (makes 5 litres)

Extras

Streak-free formula, Removes road grime, insect remains, pollen, car wax residues and potentially dangerous greasy films

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

X

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Glimmermann (GLI026x5)

Premium Product

If you're after premium products for your four-wheeled friend, the Glimmermann Extreme Winter Fluid Screen Wash may catch your fancy. Glimmermann Products is a very respectable family-run company that supplies a professional range of automotive products both at trade and at retail levels, so if you believe that your vehicle deserves the best care and don't mind spending extra money for it, look no further than this car wash.

What makes it so special is its effectiveness and dilution rate. Actually, for the summer season, you'll need to mix just 50 ml with 1 litre of water to get a highly-effective windscreen solution. It'll tackle grease, dirt and insect residue with ease, leaving nothing but sparklingly clean finish. And seeing that the bottle includes as many as 20 litres of fluid, we bet it'll last you for a year or two. Also, this makes it ideal for car services and families with multiple cars.

When it comes to cooler months, it works down to -20°C. For the highest protection during the most freezing of days, it should be used neat, while -16°C requires 1:2 proportion and -12°C requires 1:4 proportion correspondingly, which is still a great ratio for washer fluids.

With the great longevity like this and smear-free results, the Glimmermann Extreme Winter is worth every penny. It'll do the job brilliantly all year long, keeping your windscreen extra clean and your safety on the road extra high.

Review of Glimmermann (GLI026x5) Extreme Winter Windscreen Washer Fluid

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £24.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B017V3XAVO

 

Krafft (14126)

Ready-to-use Cleaner

For those who're looking for a perfect alternative to "standard" car washers sold at petrol stations and supermarket, we've included the Krafft Methanol-Free Windscreen Washer Fluid onto our shortlist. Just as the name suggests, it's a high-quality windscreen cleaner that is free of methanol. It's based on organic tenso-actives and alcohols that deliver the same great cleaning results without affecting rubber and leaving any spots or streaks. The fluid deftly removes dirt, traffic film, insect stains, bird droppings and other build-ups from a car's windscreen, providing a driver with a crystal-clear view all year round. That is to say, despite being claimed to be suitable for up to -5ºC, the  product is non-freezing up to -9º, which makes it good for use almost all year round, especially considering the UK climate, which is very mild.

What we also like about the Krafft Windscreen cleaner is that it's a ready-to-use solution that doesn't need to be mixed with water, preventing you from the messes and saving your time on the diluting process. One bottle includes 5 litres of fluid, which should be more than enough to get most car tanks full.

Another benefit is that this washer delivers a water-repelling effect and, accordingly, prevents droplets from sticking on the windscreen. The rain drops just run off and let you see the road better, which is especially crucial when you're driving at high speeds. This also means that you have better vision and reduce the use of the wiper blades, thus, extending their service life. A win-win choice on all levels.

Review of Krafft (14126) Methanol Free Windscreen Washer Fluid
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00VVL9RF6

 

Sonax Xtreme

Small but Mighty

For those who get irritated by having large part-bottles of wash fluids all around, the SONAX company has come up with the solution - the 250-ml tub of ultra-concentrated wash/car cleaning agent. A little bottle like this is far easier to store in the trunk of a small car or under the sink compared to bulky containers that never seem to match the actual tank size of your vehicle.

Although the SONAX screen wash seems too expensive for the capacity, the high initial cost is easily offset by the amazing dilution ratio. Just 25 ml give 2.5 litres of cleaning fluid, which totals 25 litres for the bottle, making it a pretty decent value. Actually, it works out cheaper than 'ready to use' solutions sold at petrol stations and easily outperforms them when it comes to the cleaning power.

Once diluted, the SONAX wash delivers a clear vision in seconds. Utilising nanotechnology, it's super effective at lifting bug splats and removing road grime from the windscreen. It also instantly eradicates dazzling and greasy films, making the glass cleaner with no smear marks left behind. The water just beads off, while the screen wiper rubbers don't squeak or judder. That's largely achieved owing to the addition of the glycerine that keeps rubber supple.

All things considered, if you're tight on storage space (or just want to stay neat) but still looking for a high-performance washer, we can't recommend this super-concentrated mix highly enough.

Review of Sonax Xtreme Screen Wash 250ml
Last updated price £12.94
Stock In stock
ASIN B001002M28

 

Rain-X Additive

For Rain and Light Snow

Do you often find yourself driving in the rain and want to improve your safety on the road during those muddy days? Then this Washer Additive by Rain-X can become a real lifesaver in all senses of the word. It's a unique product with water-repellent properties that should be put into a washer reservoir each time the windscreen fluid is used. By doing so, you'll make your screen clearer than ever before and drastically improve its hydrophobic coating. This means you get not only a potent bug, dirt, tree sap, and grime fighter but also a water-repeller that will make raindrops to bead up and run off your windscreen. As a result, you won't need to use your wipers as often, thus improving your visibility on the road.

Just like most washers, the Rain-X needs diluting. In general, a 500-ml bottle will make up 4.5 litres of the mix for summer. For winter, it'll make up to 2 litres (2 parts water to 1 part of this additive will work for mild temperatures up to -5°C, while 1-to-1 part will be sufficient for freezing -10°C).

Overall, this Washer Additive by Rain-X is a good choice for rainy spring and autumn, as well as for those cold winter days when the frost starts 'biting' your nose. It'll do a great job of topping up and adding some water repellence to your car's windscreen, working amazingly well for rainy and snowy conditions. The water beads will easily spray off the screen, thus, significantly reducing the use of windscreen wipers.

Review of Rain-X Additive Car Winscreen Washer

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £30.18
Stock In stock
ASIN B01MQ0OCZN

 

BMW Genuine Car Care

Does a Double Duty

Often experience problems with your washer jets working inappropriately or not working at all? Or, probably, the headlamp washer of your car has stopped to retract fully? Then, this BMW genuine windscreen cleaner can become a real lifesaver. The thing is that the fluid is suitable for use with fan nozzles, and if there is some sort of build-up inside them, just a couple of squirts with this cleaning solution will fix the problem.

Speaking about its main job, the BMW highly-concentrated washer has a great smell and cleaning power. It works wonders removing dirt, dead bugs, pollen, car wax residue, and dangerous greasy films that might impair the view through the windscreen or, even worse, cause dangerous glare from sunlight or headlights. It leaves the windscreen ultra-smooth and free from any smears. The solution is also very light, so it doesn't stick all over the vehicle after use.

As mentioned, it's a highly-concentrated cleaning additive with a mixing ratio of 1:100. Therefore, you'll be able to make 5 litres of windscreen washer fluid from a 50-ml bottle of concentrate, giving you the same value as other bargain washer fluids. The only exception is that this genuine BMW fluid cleans so immaculately that you may want to touch the window to make sure there is glass in front of you.

All in all, just any car owner who believes that their vehicle deserves the best should try the BMW windscreen cleaner. It's very effective and lasts a while. Plus, the tiny bottle like this can be easily stored in the glove compartment, just in case you run out of the washer on the road.

Review of BMW Genuine Car Care Windscreen Washer Cleaner Concentrate

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £13.90
Stock In stock
ASIN B00A4CASCY

 

What Is a Windshield Washer Fluid?

Only a few drivers think of a clean windshield as of an important road safety measure, which is an obvious overlook. A dirty, hazed, or cracked windscreen obstructing the proper view and deteriorating visibility will not only make driving harder but also poses a serious safety hazard that might lead to accidents and emergencies on the road. In this concern, windshield washers offer a simple and easy way to keep your windscreen clean without a hassle.

The first thing to mention and remember is that plain water isn't a good alternative to special cleansing agents when it comes to windshield wiping. Not only does it lack cleaning power as compared to washer fluids, but also it creates a favourable environment for mould and bacteria growth and freezes at low temperatures, exposing the pump system of a car to damages. In contrast to that, windshield fluid blends contain special ingredients to combat those stubborn messes and offer a whole lot of benefits over water. Breaking down dirt and grime without any streaks, they help maintain good windshield visibility in harsh weather conditions. More than that, most washer fluids can easily withstand cold temperatures up to 0°C and some of them are even formulated with anti-freeze to endure the stunning minuses.

Windshield washers also work to protect your vehicle in a way. Some minor damages and blemishes are easier to see on a clean windscreen So, you can timely spot the problem and solve it before it leads to damage. Besides, maintaining a smooth wiper operation, those cleaning liquids will help maintain your car wipers in a good serviceable condition for longer.

The only negative about wiper fluid blends is that they normally contain ethanol or methanol that are far from being friendly to our health and environment. However, despite the toxicity, driving without windscreen washers in the extreme weather is far more dangerous. Hence, it is certainly the case when safety benefits outweigh potential risks.

Some other products that contribute to driving safety on the road include wiper blades and LED fog lights.

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Publish Date: 2020-11-13 16:11:57