Is screenwash a waste of money?

With household budgets under pressure, the motor repair industry is predicting that maintenance budgets will also be snipped. Yet, while sensible savings can be made, GEM argues that cutting back on screenwash is a false economy.

Screenwash's most obvious property is preventing freezing. Frozen screenwash could land you in hot water legally, because an inability not to clean the windscreen is against the law. For instance, if you submit a car for an MOT with frozen washer bottle contents, it will fail the test.

As water expands by 9%, when frozen solid, you risk splitting not just the washer bottle but also the associated filters, pipes and jets. Consider also that many modern cars possess expensive mechanisms that clean the headlamps, which are required by law and inspected at MOT Test time - and any freezing risks damaging those parts.

During the spring, summer and autumn, these anti-freezing properties are not as important but screenwash still has relevance. A quality solution will aid in clearing detritus from the glass, whether that be grime from salted winter roads, or stubborn residue from splattered summer bugs. It will also help lubricate the rubber wiper blade, helping it glide across the screen without juddering. Furthermore, once applied, screenwash must evaporate, without damaging either the vehicle’s paintwork, or plastic headlamp covers. Quality screenwash also inhibits legionella bacteria growth within the system, which causes legionnaire's disease - something to consider if you, or a vulnerable associate, cover low annual mileages.

What does screenwash contain?

Alcohol tends to be the main ingredient within screenwash that dissolves grease and reduces freezing temperatures. Interestingly, poisonous methanol was used, until it was banned in 2018. Today, (bio)ethanol replaces it as a key ingredient.

Solutions with lower freezing points tend to be costlier. One reason for this is that perfumes are added in greater concentrations, to help mask the strong odour of the alcohol content. A bittering agent is also added by the screenwash manufacturers, to discourage ingestion.

A decent screenwash also contains a mix of solvents and detergents, selected based on their cleaning properties. Surfactants loosen the dirt and contaminants, first, before the wipers sweep them from the glazing.

Screenwash buying advice

Naturally, not all screenwashes share the same formulations. GEM's technical division reports instances of congealing, when two different types are mixed. Some cars possess filters that can become blocked as a result, dictating potentially expensive dismantling and cleaning.

When looking for optimum value, consider what you are looking for, because some screenwashes possess surprisingly limited anti-freezing abilities. You may find that buying screenwash concentrate and diluting it from home is more cost-effective than buying a pre-mixed solution that you pour in. As with many things, you pay extra for convenience.

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