If you’re looking to save some pennies as you drive your new or pre-owned certified Toyota this winter, one option is to make your own windshield wiper fluid. With all of the rain, snow, and mud to come as you drive through Hazelwood or St. Peters to St. Louis MO, you’ll probably end up using quite a bit of this fluid. So, how do you make it, and is it really worth the hassle?

There are a variety of recipes for making your own windshield wiper fluid. While the fluid you buy pre-made for your certified Toyota is ready to put into the tank, the homemade fluid is a bit trickier. One common recipe is to take standard window cleaner that you already have in your garage and mix it half and half with water. When you do this, you’ll have a good mix of fluid to use to keep your windshield clean. The down side is that commercial window cleaners can be expensive, and even when you dilute them with water you may still be paying more than you need to be paying.

Another recipe for windshield wiper fluid for your certified Toyota is to take white vinegar and mix it with water. Once cup of vinegar for every gallon of water is a good mix. You have to be careful, however, as this mix may freeze, leaving you without wiper fluid when you need it. If you’re worried about having icy fluid as you drive to St. Charles or Florissant, this may be a better recipe for summer use.

In order to keep your windshield wiper fluid from freezing, you’ll need more than water in it. One good recipe is three cups of rubbing alcohol to one gallon of water. You can even add some blue food coloring if you want that bit of color in the tank. The alcohol will keep the fluid from freezing in your certified Toyota, and it will also help it to dry more quickly on your windshield when you spray it.

While windshield wiper fluid is pretty inexpensive, there are homemade versions that can save you even more money. It may be best to test out your concoction first to make sure it works well, and then you’ll be sure you can keep your windshield clear during the Missouri winter.