How To Remove Ice From a Car Windshield
Source: Pixabay
In the colder months, it isn’t uncommon for ice to freeze over vehicle windshields. Unfortunately, this ice prevents visibility outside the car and can cause delays in commutes. It’s tricky to get the ice off without damaging the glass. What are the best ways to remove ice from a vehicle’s windshield?
If you’re interested in learning more about how to remove ice from a car windshield, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about our top five picks for ice removal from your vehicle. The more you know about the process, the easier it will be to remove ice without hurting your vehicle.
Try Rubbing Alcohol
According to suntrup.com, one of the best strategies is to form a solution with rubbing alcohol and water. Most people have the product on their shelves, making it easy to act quickly. All you need is water, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and a spray bottle for the application process of the solution.
To create an ideal mixture, you should:
- Form a 2:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol to water
- Place the solution in the bottle
- Add drops of dish soap for additional effectiveness
You now have spray primed and ready to go.
Once you have this solution, spray it all over the windshield. Once covered, use a squeegee or another soft tool to remove the softened ice from your vehicle. Rubbing alcohol won’t damage the glass, so you don’t have to worry about putting too much on the surface for ice removal.
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Use Salt Water
If you don’t have rubbing alcohol on hand, saltwater works as another option. More people have salt than rubbing alcohol on their shelves. According to glassdoctor.com, salt water has a lower freezing temperature than ice, helping it dissolve the cover when touched. It doesn’t take much time or money to form this effective product.
To create the saltwater solution, you should:
- Fill a spray bottle with water
- Add a scoop or two of salt as needed
Swirl the mixture around and then you are ready to begin the process.
When considering how to remove ice from a car windshield, road salt is the best selection. However, table salt will work if you don’t have road salt on hand. Once you have your solution, spray it over the glass and wait for the ice to melt. Use a cloth or another soft tool to remove the moisture. Once gone, you can hit the road and get on your way without much delay.
Utilize A Scraper
When considering how to remove ice from a car windshield, one of the most effective methods is to utilize a scraper. This scraper shouldn’t be sharp or too hard. Anything too rough will damage your glass, causing more trouble and potentially leading to cracks as water seeps into the damage and expands.
Here are a few of the best materials for a scraper:
- Rubber
- Soft plastic
- Bristles
- Cloth
These items are gentle and ideal for removing frozen water from your windshield.
Often, a scraper works best as a tool used alongside one of the solutions we mentioned. You can add the solution, wait for it to complete its job, then use the scraper to remove excess from the vehicle. Your windshield wipers will also do the trick if the ice has melted enough to become an easily wipeable slush.
Apply Defrost Setting
Another tactic is to use the defrost setting on your vehicle. This setting always works, but it takes much longer than other methods. If you have extra time on your hands and don’t want to defrost the ice while standing out in the cold, turning on your vehicle is the best choice for your needs.
Here’s how you can apply the defrost setting on your vehicle:
- Get inside your vehicle
- Turn on the car, letting the engine warm for a moment
- Crank up the heat
- Turn the heating setting to defrost
- Wait for the heater system to work
It shouldn’t take too long for the first parts of the ice to begin their thaw.
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Every vehicle has a defrost setting to keep the windshield clear and easy to see out on the road. The defrost setting also works well in conjunction with other techniques, softening the layer of ice enough that it can be pushed off with a scraper or melted with ice water. The defrost setting is always available to interested drivers.
Purchase A Solution
Our final choice in determining how to remove ice from a car windshield is to invest in a solution from the store. If you want to keep money in your pocket, this selection should be a last resort. Many stores sell pre-poured solutions, ready to remove ice from your vehicle without much effort. It costs more, but it’s guaranteed to work.
Here are a few of the best locations to invest in a quality solution for your frozen car:
- Auto parts stores and other locations with a focus on vehicles
- Online, through stores such as Amazon
- Target and other stores stocked with a variety of products
These are the best locations to invest in a product.
Once you have a favorite, keep a bottle in the back of your vehicle. Those who live in colder areas will especially benefit from having a premade solution in the trunk. It’s an excellent backup if you aren’t able to complete any of the other effective methods. However, it is the most expensive of the bunch.
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Final Thoughts
There are many ways to remove ice from the windshield of a vehicle. We recommend trying rubbing alcohol, using salt water, utilizing a scraper, applying a defrost setting, or purchasing a solution if all else fails. These methods have been tested and proven effective, time and time again.
We hope this information was helpful! It’s a pain to deal with ice on your windshield, especially if you want to head out in a hurry. These methods are the most effective. The most critical thing to keep in mind is the integrity of your windshield - taking additional time for removal is always better than scratching the glass.
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