What Is the Fastest Way to Get Ice Off Your Car’s Windshield?
December 5th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Ice on a windshield can limit your visibility behind the wheel. But if you know how to remove it properly, you can quickly defrost your windshield, maintain clear visibility on winter roads, and reduce your risk of a collision.
How to Get Ice Off Your Windshield
There are several things you can do to instantly remove ice from a frozen windshield, such as:
1. Start Your Car and Let It Idle
Put your key in your car’s ignition, activate the defroster, and let your vehicle idle for a few minutes to melt ice from your windshield.
If you have a remote car starter, you may want to set your car’s defrost to “on” when you exit your vehicle on winter nights. That way, when you use your remote starter to turn on your car in the morning, your defroster will automatically turn on. By the time you get to your car, your vehicle’s windshield will be ice-free.
2. Use an Ice Scraper and Brush
Utilize an ice scraper to remove ice from your car’s windshield. Use your scraper gently so that you don’t inadvertently damage your windshield. After you remove the ice, use a soft brush with bristles to wipe away excess water.
3. Use a Spray Solution
Apply a de-icer spray to your car’s windshield. Follow the de-icer’s instructions, and don’t over-apply it to your windshield. Store your de-icer spray at room temperature — and never store the spray in your car.
In addition to the above tips, you can place a snow cover over your car’s windshield when you’re not using the vehicle. The cover will protect your windshield against snow and ice buildup. It can also safeguard your car’s windshield wipers, side mirrors, and engine hood against winter weather damage.
Ice on a Car Window: Important Considerations
Winter brings cold temperatures, making it tough to stay focused on the task at hand. If you rush to remove ice from your car’s windows, you may unknowingly leave ice on your back windshield and side mirrors.
Clear visibility is key, and failure to remove ice from the back windshield and side mirrors can hamper your ability to see pedestrians or other motorists. The result: poor visibility can lead to an accident. Make sure to remove ice from all of your car’s windows before you drive.
You can also park your car facing east to limit the risk of ice forming on your windows. The sun rises in the east, and the heat from it can help melt ice.
You should never pour warm or hot water onto your car’s windows as part of your efforts to remove ice, either. Thermal shock can occur when warm or hot water is combined with ice, which can cause your windows to crack.
Finally, if you notice small cracks or chips in your car’s windshield or windows after you remove ice, address these issues immediately. Winter weather can cause cracks and chips to spread quickly, and the sooner you correct the issues, the less likely they can contribute to an accident.
At Fix Auto, we offer comprehensive windshield and glass repair services. Our friendly, knowledgeable, certified auto body shop technicians can fix or replace your car’s windshield and remove any window cracks or chips to lower your risk of an accident caused by poor visibility. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please contact us online or call us today at 800.INFO.FIX.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Temecula, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing Murrieta.
