Parking outside during the winter months can add an extra step to your morning routine. Frost, snow, or ice covering your windshield can quickly make your morning hectic and more stressful. You may be tempted to remove as little ice as possible in order to start driving more quickly, but driving with any frost, snow, or ice on your windshield is not safe, as it can obscure your line of sight and prevent you from seeing all the way around your vehicle. You should always remove all the frost, snow, or ice from all your vehicle windows before you start driving to ensure you have no extra blind spots due to the ice buildup. It is best to also remove any snow or ice buildup on top of the vehicle even if you can see out of all the windows because chunks to pieces of snow or ice can blow off at highway speeds and damage another vehicle or injure a pedestrian. Clearing the vehicle's windows and roof can be stressful, especially if you’re already running late, but planning ahead and knowing a few safe tips to quickly remove frost, snow, and ice can reduce your stress and get you on the road quickly.
If you search the internet, you can find videos and articles claiming to show you how to instantly remove ice from windshields. These tips may appear to be common sense, but they may actually cause major damage to your windshield. Many of these tips focus only on removing the ice and not the effects it may have on the windshield glass, so consider what may happen to your windshield if you are thinking about using these de-icing tips, most of which are not recommended.
Using Boiling Water, a Hair Dryer, or a Heat Gun to Melt Ice Off of a Windshield
The most common unsafe tips recommend ways to rapidly heat the ice on the windshield. These tips include using a hair dryer or heat gun to remove the ice or pouring boiling water directly on the windshield. These actions cause a rapid temperature change in the windshield that can cause the glass to crack or shatter. This is especially true if you already have any cracks or chips in the windshield, which could spread very quickly if heat is applied too quickly or directly.
DIY Ice Scrapers Can Cause Chips and Scratches
Other tips suggest using items such as CD cases, credit cards, or spatulas as makeshift ice scrapers. Using an item not specifically designed to scrape or brush ice from a windshield can leave deep scratches in the surface of the glass or slip and damage your car’s paint. There are no especially effective ways to fix a scratched windshield once this happens, and you’ll be left with a reminder of your impatience for much longer than the snow or ice will be around. It is always better to use an ice scraper for cars that is specifically designed to not scratch or damage glass, and will typically require less effort on your part to use since they are built to be comfortable in your hands and provide more leverage and work surface.
Using Salty or Sugary Liquids to Remove Ice or Snow
You may also find information advising you to use liquids containing high concentrations of salt or sugar, such as salt water, pickle juice, powdered drink mixes, or soda pop. These liquids are recommended because they normally freeze at lower temperatures than water. However, many of these substances are also acidic, and getting any of these liquids anywhere on the vehicle other than the windshield can cause rust or damage to the paint or bodywork and are not recommended.
More often than not, these unsafe tips cause enough damage to the windshield that you can’t safely drive without the damage obscuring your view. Plus, the damage may be severe enough that it can’t be repaired and the windshield must be replaced. Other tips may cause enough damage to the paint of your vehicle that will need to be repaired at a body shop. To avoid costly repairs and safely remove ice from a windshield or window, you need to consider other options which will remove ice from the windshield without causing damage, and may be just as easy.
If you have the time, the quickest way to remove ice from a windshield is by using windshield ice scrapers or snow brushes for cars. Make sure you use an ice scraper for a car or a car brush for snow that is designed to remove snow and ice from your car safely. Using anything else may leave scratches or cracks in the windshield. Using a scraper or brush may only remove a small amount of ice or frost per stroke, so you may need to also have other options on hand.
You should also consider using the vehicle’s windshield defroster to add to the effectiveness of your ice scraper and brush. This will warm the windshield at the same rate as the interior of the vehicle and prevent damage that could be caused by a rapid temperature change. It is recommended you avoid turning the defroster on high as this can warm the windshield too quickly before the ice melts. Since this option takes more time, there may be occasions when you may find yourself in a hurry and in need of a quicker option.
Homemade De-Icer Spray
When ice develops on your windshield, approved de-icers or a simple homemade de-icer of 2/3 cup of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and 1/3 cup of water mixed together in a spray bottle are recommended safe options that can help quickly remove the ice. You can simply spray these solutions on the ice, and then use a scraper to remove the ice as it melts and breaks apart. Make sure not to over-apply the de-icer spray; you should only spray enough de-icer to start melting the ice. Then, you can use an ice scraper and brush to finish the job as the ice melts, breaks, and comes loose from the windshield.
Ice and Snow Windshield Covers
One of the best ways to remove ice from your windshield is to prevent ice from sticking to your windshield in the first place. If you know ice is likely to develop on your windshield overnight, you can cover your windshield with something soft, like a large towel, a blanket, or a cover specifically designed for windshields. This will prevent most ice from developing on the windshield, so you only need to remove the cover when you are ready to drive. This means the windshield is clear almost instantly so you can get on the road. One thing to consider – though blankets or towels can keep some ice from sticking to the windshield, they are also absorbent and could freeze to the windshield. Though it may still be easier than having to scrape the entire windshield, it may be necessary to wait for the defroster to free the cover from your windshield. If possible, finding a winter windshield cover specifically designed for ice could save you even more time and be that much more convenient to remove when the time comes.
O’Reilly Winter Auto Supplies and Accessories
We hope this has helped you understand how to properly remove ice from your windshield and helps you plan ahead this winter. Remember, you need to remove ice or frost from all of your vehicle windows to drive safely, and the right tools and supplies can help keep you safe and on time, even when winter weather strikes. You can visit your local O’Reilly Auto Parts if you have questions about de-icers or tools to remove ice from your windshield or shop our selection of winter car accessories to be certain you’re ready for the season.
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