Any best-kept secrets for wiper fluid?

[rmasonjr]

I live in Southwest MS and the bugs are horrible. I dont know what they eat, but the residue is like glue.
Any good wiper fluid that cleans and maybe prevents them from sticking so bad?

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[C.Sco]

My Wrangler is still pretty new so I haven't had a chance to dig too deep into this yet, but bug guts are starting to pile on so I'll need to address this soon.

I'm told that Rain-X helps prevent bug guts from sticking too bad. I'm not sure of a good wiper fluid for it, but I've been considered picking up just a spray bottle of bug remover like this stuff:

 

[Rustynail11]

Spray your windshield with Rain X, helps the bugs slide off

 

[Ratbert]

Hopefully it's not love bugs. Their guts strip paint pretty damn quickly.

 

[Smoke Showing]

Small squirt of blue dawn dish detergent in the tank. I do it for the bugs and salt haze from onshore winds.

 

[calemasters]

Any best-kept secrets for wiper fluid?

I live in Southwest MS and the bugs are horrible. I dont know what they eat, but the residue is like glue.
Any good wiper fluid that cleans and maybe prevents them from sticking so bad?

I have used GM Optikleen for decades. I buy it by the case. It is concentrated so I mix it with distilled water. It cleans bugs off well in the summer and I can change the concentration in the winter so it does not freeze.

 

[XX4XEXX]

bugs will destroy your blades. My dad use to pull up to a station wet some paper towels and lay them on his windshield. It's softens them up so he wouldn't scratch his paint.

 

[Almost]

Prestone bug wash. If you know you know. Not only does it actually work it smells amazing.

Prestone® Bug Wash® Summer Windshield Washer Fluid - Prestone® Total Protection

 

[Ang1Sgt]

I use rain-X as well as one of the Bug Clean Windshield Washer fluids. I want to say it’s a Preston’s brand at AutoZone. When on a trip I always have window cleaner and a full roll of paper towels. Anytime the wife needs to stop, I’m in and out of the bathroom and back to whatever vehicle I’m driving to clean the headlights and the front window. If time allows, ALL the windows.

 

[Valpo Jeep]

I stick with the blue juice and buy it a couple gallons at a time since we have 4 vehicles at the house. I have read that Rain X purple stuff will screw up my tank sensors for my Audi so I just stick with the blue juice and aim to give the windows a good scrub when I get fuel.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

I use the generic blue stuff, but I'm not a fan of it. Between this thread and the aftermarket wiper blades I'm looking at a solution.

I personally don't like the water beading effects of rainx. Prestone brand looks interesting but I see that it also has water bead effects.

I've also heard some people say that it clogs the lines and nozzles. Who knows, just passing on hear-say.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Use a ceramic spray wax on the windshield, it will keep them from sticking so bad. I also have a good quality squeegee/scrubber at home. I run hot water on the scrubber then add a couple drops of Dawn on it, cleans the bugs right off. Sometimes you have to scrub daily.

Dried dead bugs ruin wiper blades quick, So I won't try to wipe them if there are a lot of them. I'll pull into a gas station and use the squeegee/scrubber first. I also scrub the windshield at every fill up.

I don't think there is any washer fluid that has an advantage over others when it comes to cleaning. As @Smoke Showing said, a few drops of Dawn. Keep the last gallon bottle you bought, fill it with distilled or RO water, add a few drops of dawn and shake it up. When the suds settle, pour it into the washer fluid resevoir

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Small squirt of blue dawn dish detergent in the tank. I do it for the bugs and salt haze from onshore winds.

Dawn Dish Detergent takes the wax off your vehicle... No way would I ever consider using that.

No way would I ever use Rainex windshield washer fluid either.

I keep a plastic razor blade and foam window spray/cleaner to use with Love Bugs dried on the windshield.

 

[AFD]

Well, the regular -32F blue washer fluid and stock wiper blades don't do shit, even if you spray it right after they hit. That basic combo was usually "good enough" for most any other vehicle I've driven, but guess the steep angle of attack must cause a bigger mess.

I'm planning on trying either a coat of Rain-X or a ceramic spray like Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic (and maybe trying aftermarket blades). For now I've just been letting 'em pile up until a good storm comes along to soften them up again. So far that's actually been working better than the washer fluid smearing the guts everywhere.

 

[Briiiiiian]

Wax your windshield. Don't look at me like that, just try it. With an old school paste wax, not the new ceramic crap.

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