As unfortunate as it is for us to say, colder months are right around the corner. Although we don’t see nearly as cold of temperatures here in Texas, a lot of the country will be facing snow and freezing weather before we know it. Our team here at Certified Autoplex will continue to share winter driving tips for drivers across the country to take advantage of this season and for years to come. This time we’re answering the age-old question of how to properly get ice off your windshield.

To start, it’s very important for us to note that if you’re unable to see out of your windshield, you should not be driving. It is not acceptable to only scrape off a hole for you to see through because your visibility will be greatly decreased, so therefore your chance of an accident will greatly increase. Also keep in mind to never pour water onto your windshield if it’s covered in ice between the extreme change in temperature could cause it to crack.

Top 3 Steps to De-Ice Your Windshield

1. Turn On Defrost – This is the most obvious and simple solution to the problem of having ice on your windshield. Most vehicles nowadays have a windshield defroster that will blast hot area onto your windshield to melt the ice. However, we don’t always have enough time to wait for our vehicles to warm up and melt the ice on their own.
2. Make a Saltwater Solution – Similar to how salt is used on sidewalks to help melt snow and ice, the same idea can be transferred over to your windshield. Create a simple saltwater solution and spray a thin layer on the windshield. It’s important to use it sparingly as any solution can be damaging to the glass. Start to scrape away at the parts where you’ve applied the solution, and you should notice it coming off with ease. There are also premade de-icing solutions you can purchase at a convenience store that will do the trick.
3. Cover Car With Tarp – If you live in an area that doesn’t get a ton of snowfall, this could be an excellent option for you. Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to park in a garage, which is why we’ve come up with the tarp solution. Make sure to tie it down so it stays close to the vehicle. However, if there’s a heavy snowfall, it may be difficult to remove the tarp, so be sure to keep that in mind.

These are just a few ideas on how to speed up the process of de-icing your windshield. The best method is to just allow your defrost system in the vehicle to take care of the situation, but time can be a deciding factor as to how we handle this dilemma. Just keep in mind that if you’re using any solutions on your vehicle, be sure to use them sparingly as they could cause more harm than good.

For more driving tips and tricks, be sure to stay tuned to our blog here at Certified Autoplex. We’re constantly updating it with all the latest information we receive, and it’s intended as a tool for you to use. More information is available by contacting our team.