Homemade Windshield Water Repellent
by Tammie Painter
Some commercial products repel water from your windshield while driving in the rain. This aids greatly with visibility and also makes it easier to remove ice when it forms on your windshield. While not expensive, if you want to make a windshield water repellent at home, you can do so with a handful of ingredients. You can either make a simple solution with water and rubbing alcohol, or make a repellent that follows more closely to ingredients in store-bought windshield water repellent.
Simple Solution
Step 1
Pour half a cup of rubbing alcohol into the measuring cup. Pour this into the spray bottle.
Step 2
Measure out 1 cup of filtered water and add this to the spray bottle.
Step 3
Swirl the bottle to mix the two ingredients. The bottle will feel warm, but not hot. Wait until it cools before putting on the cap.
Step 4
Spray the solution onto the exterior of a clean and dry windshield. Use a clean and dry rag to wipe the windshield until it is thoroughly dry.
Solution Similar to Store-Bought Windshield Water Repellent
Step 1
Measure 86 ml of the ethanol into the graduated cylinder. Pour this into the spray bottle.
Step 2
Measure 5 ml of rubbing alcohol and pour this into the spray bottle.
Step 3
Measure 9 ml of silicone oil or castor oil in the graduated cylinder and add this to the spray bottle. Use a clean spray bottle; don't add to the solution from Step 1.
Step 4
Swirl the bottle to mix the ingredients. The bottle will feel warm, but not hot. Wait until it cools before putting on the cap.
Step 5
Spray the solution onto the exterior of a clean and dry windshield. Use a clean and dry rag to wipe the windshield until it is thoroughly dry.
References
Tips
- Be sure to thoroughly dry the windshield after you apply either solution or you will get streaking and an uneven application of the mixture.
Things You'll Need
- Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
- Filtered water
- Measuring cup
- Spray bottle
- Rag
- 100 ml graduated cylinder
- Ethanol
- Silicone oil or castor oil
- Graduated cylinder
Warnings
- Measure out the alcohol in a well-ventilated area away from flame.
Writer Bio
Based in Portland, Ore., Tammie Painter has been writing garden, fitness, science and travel articles since 2008. Her articles have appeared in magazines such as "Herb Companion" and "Northwest Travel" and she is the author of six books. Painter earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Portland State University.
