Like everyone who has to earn a buck, mere weather issues like snow or rain won’t stop you from driving. Still, you must have noticed how dust, pollution and bird droppings have a tendency to accumulate on your windshield, severely cutting down on visibility. Keeping your windshield clean is a must to ensure safe driving and you should know how to check your windshield washer fluid level in order to maintain safety standards.

As with all tasks involving car maintenance and power tools, work on a flat surface. If the car has been used prior to you learning how to check your windshield washer fluid level, allow the engine bay to cool down substantially first. There’s no point in rushing in headlong only to end up burning yourself.

With the hood open and secured, the windshield washer fluid reservoir can be identified as a white tank located near the base of the windshield and the wipers. A windshield washer fluid tank can also be translucent. They usually come with indicator marks that tell you the level of windshield washer fluid remaining in the tank and help you determine if you need to replace the washer fluid. Aside from checking the level of washer fluid available, you should also check the tank for any cracks or leakage. A damaged tank must be replaced immediately.

Windshield washer fluid has to be topped up, refilled or replaced if the level of fluid is below that of the half-full indicator mark. The windshield washer fluid you use to refill the washer fluid tank can either be commercial formulations or a mixture of household ingredients such as water, soft soap, antifreeze or alcohol.

Powdered detergent should never be used because it may damage rubber wiper blades as well as the windshield itself. Antifreeze is commonly used by drivers in cold weather while alcohol keeps the windshield sparkling clean and streak-free. Both should be used only in small amounts to prevent streaks and the wiper blades from hardening. The washer fluid should preserve your wipers in addition to keeping your windshield free from dirt and dust.

Whatever formulation you decide to use, the washer fluid tank should be filled right up to the full level indicator. Use a funnel to ensure that all the fluid goes only into the tank and nowhere else in the engine bay. Cap the washer fluid tank when this is complete and test the windshield washer nozzles to ensure you have done things correctly.