I figure commercial windshield washer fluid is about 99% water and 1% something else, plus a little blue dye. Does anyone know what the other 1% is and if it is available commercially so you can make up your own at home?

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 12, 2001

Answers

Gosh Ken I was thinking the same thing yesterday. Is it rubbing alcohol?

Lynn

-- Lynn (johnnypfc@yahoo.com), October 12, 2001.

10C water, 3C isopropyl alcohol, 1 TB liquid dish detergent. Also, this will not freeze in cold climates.

-- Sandy Davis (smd2@netzero.net), October 12, 2001.

Sandy: Can you convert that to the mix for a gallon? If it is rubbing alcohol, the cost of it would be more than the $.89 or so you can buy retail.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 12, 2001.

I agree. Windshield washer solvent is something you can buy on sale for as little as 49 cents per gallon here and seldom more than 99 cents. For that kind of money I can't believe I'm going to save much doing it myself.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 12, 2001.

A little sidenote here . . . some, if not most of us probably already know this, but just in case you don't (or have forgotten). . . wiping the face of a cut onion on your car windshield and windows prevents ice from from forming on it. Not a thread hijack, but "tis the season" . . .

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), October 12, 2001.

J.R. Now you tell me! Where was that onion advice when I had to park my car out in the open and scraped ice regularly in the north?

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), October 12, 2001.

KEN

go to http://cherry-distributing.com/

they have a jug of stuff you can order for a few bucks that makes 128 gallons of window washing liquid.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), October 12, 2001.

Half Windex and half water works great. Don't know how much ~ if any ~ you'd save! :^)

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), October 13, 2001.