Smelly Windscreen Washers

[SaabGeeza]

The fluid in the washer bottles gives a nasty old whiff when I use the washers (like something's died in the bottle and is steadily decomposing!).

I know the fix is to remove the washer bottle and give it a damn good clean, but might there be an easier (= lazier) way? I'm thinking of some kind of sterilising solution, but wonder what Domestos would do once it gets onto the paintwork...

Any suggestions? And has anyone else had this 'issue'?

(Hello, I'm Saabgeeza and have washer fluid odour...)

[sgould]

It hasn't happened to me for a long time.  But I've been using the Halfords pre-mixed stuff.

Domestos is a bleach.  I wouldn't let it near anything that could be sprayed on paintwork!

On the other hand.  Something like Milton or a similar baby sterilising solution should be OK.  Just be aware that you only need to use a very small dose of the stuff.  It will still sterilise at huge dilutions.  We used something similar when I was sterilising drinking water reservoirs.  About 40 parts/million was sufficient. Flush out the bottle.  Leave to stand for an hour with the solution in it.

40ppm in a 5 litre Saab washer bottle is a few drops.  A teaspoonful will be well over the top, but probably won't do any harm.  But check the instructions on the bottle.  Some of the stuff sold in chemists is pre-diluted.

[Steve440]

You should start using screen wash in the water. Most contain something to keep things from going stagnant.

Most modern screen wash bottles contain up to 5 litres of fluid, it gets hot and cold and with no additive will go off after a period of time. You will also find the washer jets will block up less.

Dont use fairy liquid or anything else you think will work, screen wash is made for the job and works well, even the cheap and nasty type.

Steve

[phoenix]

Bleach is not a bad option... fill it up with warm water and a small amount. Leave it for half an hour or so then pull off one of the hoses from the bottom and it will all drain out. Fill up with fresh water and drain twice.

[SaabGeeza]

Thanks for your thoughts all. I've always used additive (winter or summer) and for a long time when I worked in a lab used distilled water, as it was free and which I wouldn't have thought was great for bacteria to grow in.

Milton's sounds good, I'll sweet talk anyone I know who's recently had a baby...

[Audax]

I'd just stick a hose in the washer bottle and flush it right out, then run the system through with just clean water. Then get some decent screen wash like the genuine GM stuff on ebay, mix it up 50/50 with normal water and run it through the jets to get all the old muck out. It should solve the problem and effectively sterilise the system with nearly 50% alcohol. I've seen some screen washes go very horrible even when mixed up as the manufacturer suggested.

[TomPaine]

I'd just stick a hose in the washer bottle and flush it right out

Exactly what I was about to post to suggest. ISTR this question being asked of HonestJohn and this was always his prescription, hose in the top and flush, so HonestAudax is on the money.

[collywobble]

I always buy the concentrated screen wash from Lidl's, IIRC its 69p a bottle that will make about 25 litres of screen wash, comes in apple or lemon scent so never get any nasty smells.

[Audax]

LIDL sell a really really good winter screen wash, just it's only for about 3 days each year which makes it hard to get hold of 

I really rate the GM stuff, mixed up right it will do down to -35C

[sgould]

I always buy the concentrated screen wash from Lidl's, IIRC its 69p a bottle that will make about 25 litres of screen wash, comes in apple or lemon scent so never get any nasty smells.

On her 9-3 Vector the recirc cuts in when you use the washers.  No smells of any kind.  Good or bad!!


(your post above shows an edit by me.  I didn't.  I pressed Modify instead of Quote    )

[Max Headroom]

In my opinion,  the bleach option is a non-starter however watered down it might be!

We hyperchlorinate aircraft domestic water systems, using some crystals that are dissolved in a jug of hot water than added to the aircraft water supply when filling it from empty. The solution is then flushed through all the taps and pipes by simply running the taps and then allowed to stand for a couple of hours before being completely drained out and flushed with fresh water several times.

I would try flushing it out with very hot but NOT BOILING water containing a hyperchlorination solution such as Milton, followed by a good flush through, just as we do with the aircraft method.
I'm sure you will be able to go to a local pharmacy and buy small quantities sachets of chorination powder or Milton.

Once the hyperchlorination has been done use a strong solution of windscreen wash. I don't buy the pre-mixed type as I have had the jets freeze, so prefer to mix my own depending on the expected weather temps (ie in winter a very strong mix).

Never just use soap in summer; there have been reports of windscreen water causing health problems but that by adding a commercial windscreen-wash fluid it is believed that can be eliminated.

                  A LINK ON THE HEALTH ISSUE HERE...

[SaabGeeza]

Just an update on the odour problem... I've put a Milton tablet in the washer bottle (the Milton instructions conveniently saying it was a dose of one tablet for 5 litres) and 'bang', the bad smell has gone. 

I'm just going to use the screenwash in very rainy conditions at first so any bleaching effect on the rest of the car is minimal. I'll wait to see if it's a proper cure rather than just masking the bad smell with a swimming pool aroma, but I'm mighty hopeful.

I'll successively dliute the Milton washer bottle contents with full-strengh screenwash, and I think then I'll have done without removing said bottle, result!

Thanks again for everyone's input to my 'odour problem'!

Geeza

[sgould]

Great!

[nine-fiver]

I use Milton's for sterilising 2.5 Litre cycling water bladders. Great stuff, except for the after taste...

[James]

Can you just pop the hoses off and run the Milton solution through the system and into a container instead of onto your 'screen and paint?  Then flush, refill it with proper screen wash, and job done?