One of the more bothersome challenges of winter is removing ice from your car’s windshield on frosty mornings. Here are some tips from AAA on how to prevent and remove windshield ice.
The old proverb that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely holds true when it comes to ice on vehicle windshields. You never have to remove something that is not there in the first place, which means the most effective way to prevent ice on a windshield is to park your car in a garage. Even a covered carport can help reduce ice formation in some situations.
To aid in ice prevention and ease removal, some do it yourselfers soak cloth windshield covers in a solution of one tablespoon salt to one quart water. The damp cover can be stored in a plastic bag or container between uses.
Commercial spray-on ice and frost “shield” solutions are also available to pretreat the windshield, although these can be pricy at up to $15 a quart. In addition, some ice prevention products contain ethylene glycol, which is poisonous to pets if swallowed.
Do it yourselfers often use a homemade windshield pretreatment, consisting of three parts white vinegar to one part water. The solution is applied with a spray bottle the evening before and then wiped off. Leaving the liquid on the glass is ineffective because its freezing point is just barely lower than that of water, and some glass professionals caution that extended exposure to liquid vinegar may cause micro pitting of the windshield glass.
Before the weather turns cold, fill your automobile’s windshield washer reservoir with winter fluid or a “de-icer” solution that will not freeze and can aid in ice removal. Be sure to operate the washers long enough to flush any summer solution from the lines. When snow or freezing weather is expected, fold the wiper arms up off the glass or place small pieces of wood (or other objects) under the wiper arms to hold the rubber blades off the windshield. This will prevent them from freezing to the glass and ease snow and ice removal. The use of one-piece beam-type wiper blades or rubber encased winter wipers will minimize snow and ice buildup on the blades and help speed the removal of both.
To remove ice from a windshield, follow these simple steps:
If your car has an automatic climate control system, simply set it to defrost. If your car is one of the few with an optional electrically-heated windshield, turn it on to rapidly clear ice from the glass.
If desired, apply a commercial glass deicer spray to the windshield. These products generally contain methanol, which is the best form of alcohol for deicing. However, like pretreatment sprays, they tend to cost up to $15 per quart and may contain pet-hazardous ethylene glycol.
Some do it yourselfers use a homemade deicing solution made of one part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and two parts water. The isopropyl alcohol sold in stores ranges from 50 to 90 percent purity. Higher purity provides a lower freezing point and better deicing capability. A few drops of dish soap added to the mixture will act as a surfactant to help coat the ice more evenly. Apply the solution with a spray bottle and, if practical, store it indoors so the added warmth can aid the deicing process. Alcohol-based deicing mixtures freeze at around 5 degrees Fahrenheit versus 32 degrees for water.
Vinegar-based pretreatments, alcohol-based deicing solutions and dishwashing soap are not directly harmful to your vehicle’s paint. However, they do remove car wax and over time will leave the finish exposed to the elements and corrosive chemicals such as road salts. Windshield covers soaked in a saltwater solution pose similar concerns. If you use windshield pretreatments or deicers on a regular basis, keep in mind the need for total car care and periodically wash and rewax any affected areas of the car as weather permits.
It can be tempting to remove the least amount of ice necessary before driving off on a frigid winter morning. However, the proper procedure is to remove ice and snow from all glass on your vehicle. If you cannot see clearly out of the car in every direction you are driving in an unsafe manner and your odds of being involved in a collision go up. In order to avoid bodily injury or a costly car repair, it is best to play it safe and remove all snow and ice. In addition, at least 11 states have laws that require snow and ice removal before driving a vehicle. Failure to do so could result in a citation … or worse.
Preventative Measures
The old proverb that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely holds true when it comes to ice on vehicle windshields. You never have to remove something that is not there in the first place, which means the most effective way to prevent ice on a windshield is to park your car in a garage. Even a covered carport can help reduce ice formation in some situations.
(Image: Wesley Fryer, CC BY 2.0)
To aid in ice prevention and ease removal, some do it yourselfers soak cloth windshield covers in a solution of one tablespoon salt to one quart water. The damp cover can be stored in a plastic bag or container between uses.
Commercial spray-on ice and frost “shield” solutions are also available to pretreat the windshield, although these can be pricy at up to $15 a quart. In addition, some ice prevention products contain ethylene glycol, which is poisonous to pets if swallowed.
Do it yourselfers often use a homemade windshield pretreatment, consisting of three parts white vinegar to one part water. The solution is applied with a spray bottle the evening before and then wiped off. Leaving the liquid on the glass is ineffective because its freezing point is just barely lower than that of water, and some glass professionals caution that extended exposure to liquid vinegar may cause micro pitting of the windshield glass.
Before the weather turns cold, fill your automobile’s windshield washer reservoir with winter fluid or a “de-icer” solution that will not freeze and can aid in ice removal. Be sure to operate the washers long enough to flush any summer solution from the lines. When snow or freezing weather is expected, fold the wiper arms up off the glass or place small pieces of wood (or other objects) under the wiper arms to hold the rubber blades off the windshield. This will prevent them from freezing to the glass and ease snow and ice removal. The use of one-piece beam-type wiper blades or rubber encased winter wipers will minimize snow and ice buildup on the blades and help speed the removal of both.
Ice Removal
To remove ice from a windshield, follow these simple steps:
- Start the engine
- Set the heater to defrost
- Adjust the airflow to recirculate
- Move the temperature control to full heat
If your car has an automatic climate control system, simply set it to defrost. If your car is one of the few with an optional electrically-heated windshield, turn it on to rapidly clear ice from the glass.
If desired, apply a commercial glass deicer spray to the windshield. These products generally contain methanol, which is the best form of alcohol for deicing. However, like pretreatment sprays, they tend to cost up to $15 per quart and may contain pet-hazardous ethylene glycol.
Some do it yourselfers use a homemade deicing solution made of one part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and two parts water. The isopropyl alcohol sold in stores ranges from 50 to 90 percent purity. Higher purity provides a lower freezing point and better deicing capability. A few drops of dish soap added to the mixture will act as a surfactant to help coat the ice more evenly. Apply the solution with a spray bottle and, if practical, store it indoors so the added warmth can aid the deicing process. Alcohol-based deicing mixtures freeze at around 5 degrees Fahrenheit versus 32 degrees for water.
(Image: Highways England, CC BY 2.0)
Vehicle Protection
Vinegar-based pretreatments, alcohol-based deicing solutions and dishwashing soap are not directly harmful to your vehicle’s paint. However, they do remove car wax and over time will leave the finish exposed to the elements and corrosive chemicals such as road salts. Windshield covers soaked in a saltwater solution pose similar concerns. If you use windshield pretreatments or deicers on a regular basis, keep in mind the need for total car care and periodically wash and rewax any affected areas of the car as weather permits.
Vision Safety
It can be tempting to remove the least amount of ice necessary before driving off on a frigid winter morning. However, the proper procedure is to remove ice and snow from all glass on your vehicle. If you cannot see clearly out of the car in every direction you are driving in an unsafe manner and your odds of being involved in a collision go up. In order to avoid bodily injury or a costly car repair, it is best to play it safe and remove all snow and ice. In addition, at least 11 states have laws that require snow and ice removal before driving a vehicle. Failure to do so could result in a citation … or worse.
Finding Quality Auto Repair
AAA recommends that you plan ahead for vehicle service by finding an auto repair shop and technician you can trust before you need them. AAA.com/Repair provides information on nearly 7,000 Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met AAA’s high standards for appearance, technician training and certification, insurance coverage and customer satisfaction. AAA regularly inspects every Approved Auto Repair facility and surveys their customers to ensure ongoing performance. In addition, AAA members receive special benefits that include auto repair discounts, an extended 24-month/24,000-mile parts and labor warranty, and AAA assistance in resolving repair-related issues.