Screenwash. I broke the rules.

[ringway]

A lot of the screenwash on sale these days isn't up to much.
I got tired of not being able to see properly through the screen, especially at night on motorways with a high volume of truck traffic which seem to throw up more oily stuff that smears on the screen.

So, at the risk of blocking up my washer jets , I reverted to the stuff I used as a young man - Fairy Liquid!
The screen has never been as clean and although I wouldn't recommend for use in the summer months when the suds would dry onto the paintwork, in the winter weather it's a good thing to add to today's underperforming screenwashes IMHO.

 

[AMGeed]

You do realise there is a high salt content in Fairy Liquid?

 

[flango]

A lot of the screenwash on sale these days isn't up to much. I got tired of not being able to see properly through the screen, especially at night on motorways with a high volume of truck traffic which seem to throw up more oily stuff that smears on the screen. So, at the risk of blocking up my washer jets , I reverted to the stuff I used as a young man - Fairy Liquid! The screen has never been as clean and although I wouldn't recommend for use in the summer months when the suds would dry onto the paintwork, in the winter weather it's a good thing to add to today's underperforming screenwashes IMHO.

I make my own
Fairy liquid
10% anionic surfactant
Meths

Dilute with water Been using it for 30+ years washers never freeze even in deepest winter and screen clean as can be never had a problem

 

[Giantvanman]

I make my own

Fairy liquid
10% anionic surfactant
Meths

Been using it for years washers never freeze even in deepest winter and screen clean as can be

1556->0x 1

Is that stuff used in oil spill clean-up?

 

[ringway]

You do realise there is a high salt content in Fairy Liquid?

Yes, but it's diluted in the wash reservoir and because the rain is lashing down there won't be much left of it on the bodywork. I'm not at all concerned.

 

[flango]

Is that stuff used in oil spill clean-up?

Yep the surfactants used in oil spill clean up are a lot more concentrated and their anionic content is tailored to the oil been treated. The reason for using anionic surfactants is that cationic surfactants kill fish as a fishes gills are anionic so if they come into contact with cationic it cross links and forms a gel which effectively suffocates marine life

 

[Giantvanman]

Yep the surfactants used in oil spill clean up are a lot more concentrated and their anionic content is tailored to the oil been treated. The reason for using anionic surfactants is that cationic surfactants kill fish as a fishes gills are anionic so if they come into contact with cationic it cross links and forms a gel which effectively suffocates marine life

Apologies but I am picturing a volcano, a dastardly plot and a Bond villain. Like the sound of your recipe though

 

[flango]

Apologies but I am picturing a volcano, a dastardly plot and a Bond villain. Like the sound of your recipe though

I stole it from a previous Company I worked for who supplied a well known brand screen wash it wasn't fairy liquid in that one but was as close as it got ;-)

 

[merc85]

not sure on what dilution ratio you should useif your going to use it but ive known it to block the rubber filter pre washer pump on certain makes and models of car's.

 

[GLK]

I must confess - the only creative DIY screenwashing I ever do is to buy SummerFit in November and WinterFit in May

I then feel rather smug and kind of living on the edge, when I switch from summer to winter by adding ½ litre of new [concentrated] stuff to ¾ filled washer bottle ... without carefully measuring / diluting

After that it's back to precise dilution, as prescribed by MB

 

[guydewdney]

I make my own
Fairy liquid
10% anionic surfactant
Meths

Dilute with water Been using it for 30+ years washers never freeze even in deepest winter and screen clean as can be never had a problem

What /where can one get anionic surfactants as a lay person? Is it like bicarb of soda in that its a common household ingredient but called something else?

 

[Giantvanman]

What /where can one get anionic surfactants as a lay person? Is it like bicarb of soda in that its a common household ingredient but called something else?

I was curious too so looked this up - Category:Anionic surfactants - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For example, "Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate is a series of organic compounds with the formula C12H25C6H4SO3Na. It is a colourless salt with useful properties as a surfactant. It is usually produced as a mixture of related sulfonates. It is a major component of laundry detergent".

Then I became sidetracked at the thought of washing socks and smalls in washer bottle…………I need help.

 

[Spinal]

Is this it?
Non Ionic Surfactant Tergitol NP 9 Gallon size | eBay

Putting surfactants into ebay comes up with all sorts of weird stuff... and probably a trace from the doughnut...

I'm more curious about the meths... where do you get those without some questions being raised?! (edit:ignore that, just read up on it )

 

[flango]

Is this it? Non Ionic Surfactant Tergitol NP 9 Gallon size | eBay Putting surfactants into ebay comes up with all sorts of weird stuff... and probably a trace from the doughnut... I'm more curious about the meths... where do you get those without some questions being raised?! (edit:ignore that, just read up on it )

No that's a non ionic surfactant which means it carries no charge ie is neutral

You need an anionic surfactant of 10% anionicty this carries a 10% negative charge when that combined with the detergents and cleaners in the fluid hits your windscreen it reacts with the road grime which is cationic this then neutralises the whole dirt combination allowing it to be easily removed from the screen leaving the screen crystal clear

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[DSM10000]

What a great thread for showing both the wide breadth of knowledge of members and the spirit in which they co-operate and help each other to learn something new!

 

[regbuser]

so onions then, in the screenwash tank, won't they blocked it tho..?!

 

[Spinal]

This should do then:

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate ALS 30% Solution 1 Gallon | eBay

or this from ireland...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sodium-Do...Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item2598b3574b

next question is, in what ratios do you mix them?

 

[markjay]

For nearly 40 years I have been buying screenwash at petrol stations. Any brand, they are all the same anyway. Never had a problem. And never spent much thought about it either.

But now... what has been read, can not be unread.... now that I know all that... life won't be the same again until I make my own highly-effective chemically-balanced screenwash.

Thanks for nothing!

 

[Gollom]

Is this it?
Non Ionic Surfactant Tergitol NP 9 Gallon size | eBay

Putting surfactants into ebay comes up with all sorts of weird stuff... and probably a trace from the doughnut...

I'm more curious about the meths... where do you get those without some questions being raised?! (edit:ignore that, just read up on it )

Almost £150? I'll pass on that thanks.

Can we get small bottles in the UK?

 

[Spinal]

Almost £150? I'll pass on that thanks.

Can we get small bottles in the UK?

Here:

This should do then:

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate ALS 30% Solution 1 Gallon | eBay

or this from ireland...
Sodium Dodecyl (Sodium Lauryl) Sulfate Sigma Aldrich 250g 99.5% | eBay

next question is, in what ratios do you mix them?

Only question now is dosage...