Whether you are used to cold winters full of snow and ice, or you get hit by an occasional winter storm, knowing how to quickly clean and defrost your windshield and car windows is important. Visibility while driving is critical. With these tips, you can remove ice and snow from your windshield and car windows efficiently.
Start your car and turn on the defroster.
Before you grab your ice scraper and snow brush, start your car and turn on the defroster. While you work from the outside to remove snow and ice from your windshield and car windows, your defroster can start working from the inside. The defroster gradually heats your windshield with the heat from the engine. This added heat can help melt and break apart any ice or frost that has adhered to your windshield.
Keep an ice scraper and snow brush in your car.
An ice scraper is an essential tool to defrost your windshield fast. You should buy an ice scraper made of plastic. Even better is an ice scraper with an attached snow brush to remove loose snow from your windshield.
When removing snow from your vehicle, don’t forget your headlights and taillights. You can gently brush snow away from them with your snow brush. This can help increase your visibility if you are driving in a winter storm.
Can you use a credit card, car keys or kitchen spatula to scrape your windshield?
Using a credit card, car keys, or metal kitchen spatula can scratch your glass or your paint and is not worth the headache. You could snap your credit card or scratch it so it becomes unreadable. A metal utensil or car keys could scratch and damage your glass. It is better to invest in an ice scraper, even a small one, and keep it in your car under a seat or in your trunk so that you can be ready for anything.
Should you prop up your windshield wipers before it snows?
If you park your car outside, lifting up your windshield wipers before a snowstorm helps prevent the rubber of your wiper blades from freezing to the windshield. If you ever have seen cars parked on the street with wipers in the air and wondered what they were up to, that is likely the reason. If you pry your windshield wipers from your frozen windshield, you could damage or destroy your wipers. Propping them up in the air allows you to fully clean the windshield and will give your wipers the ability to do their job when you put them back down before you hit the road. Just make sure you don’t leave them up when you start driving!
Want to defrost your windshield quickly? Try a de-icing spray.
A de-icing spray will help get ice off your windshield faster. Spray it on and the frost and ice will begin to dissolve and break apart, making it easier to scrape off with your ice scraper. There are de-icing sprays you can purchase at the store, but there are also many recipes you can find online to make your own de-icing spray. One popular recipe for de-icing spray includes adding one-third water and two-thirds rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. Since rubbing alcohol has a lower freezing point than water, it can help speed up the melting process. We recommend you research any at-home de-icing spray before using. Always follow the directions for any store-bought de-icing spray.
How do you remove salt stains from your windshield?
When you are driving along winter roads, your windshield can get a layer of salt and grime on it that makes it hard to see. If your windshield wiper fluid can handle colder temperatures, you may be relying heavily on it while you drive. In colder months, it is better to use a special winter blend of windshield wiper fluid to prevent it from freezing. Once you get home, you can give your full windshield a cleaning with an exterior glass cleaner such as TechCare Exterior Glass Cleaner. This cleaner will quickly clear your windshield and give you improved visibility as you continue to drive through the winter months.
Can you use hot water to defrost your windshield?
The quick answer is NO; do not pour hot water on your windshield. There is a video trend circulating that shows individuals using a warm bag of water to remove the frost from their windshield. You do NOT want to do this! The difference in temperature could potentially crack your windshield. It looks like a quick, easy hack, but it is not recommended! Moral of the story: don’t apply heat of any kind. Here is another individual trying out this defrosting trend.
Your front windshield is made of a laminated safety glass which can react to sudden temperature changes. That is why hot water is not recommended to defrost your windshield.
What tips do you have to quickly defrost your windshield?