Is Detergent the Same as Windshield Washer Fluid?
2 Answers
Detergent is not the same as windshield washer fluid. Below are the relevant introductions to detergent and windshield washer fluid: 1. Different compositions: (1) Glass cleaner: Main ingredients include alkaline substances, polyols, thickeners, fluorine-containing surfactants, complexing agents, defoamers, deionized water, etc. (2) Windshield washer fluid: Main ingredients include water, alcohol, ethylene glycol, corrosion inhibitors, etc. 2. Different properties: (1) Glass cleaner: Has good removal capabilities for contaminants such as grease and wax; features low surface tension, good wetting properties, and excellent permeability; highly effective in wetting, dissolving, and dispersing dirt. (2) Windshield washer fluid: Offers cleaning performance, antifreeze performance, antifog performance, antistatic performance, lubrication performance, and corrosion resistance performance.
Having driven for over a decade, I can definitively tell you that cleaning agents and windshield washer fluid are not the same thing. Windshield washer fluid is specifically designed for cleaning windshields—it quickly removes bug residue and tree sap in summer, and prevents freezing in winter. Ordinary cleaning agents like those used in kitchens are too alkaline and can corrode wiper blades, hardening and cracking them after just a few uses. Once, for convenience, I diluted dish soap with water, only to clog the spray nozzles and leave my windshield increasingly streaky. Genuine windshield washer fluid has a special formula that won't damage car paint and costs just a dozen yuan per bottle—it's really not worth the risk. Remember, the windshield washer fluid reservoir cap always has a spray symbol—don't pour any other liquids into it.
