This winter, save yourself from the hassle of scraping snow and ice off your windshield for hours. Okay, maybe it doesn’t take you hours, but it might feel like it if your fingers are freezing or you’re already late for work. These simple tips will show you how to prevent ice from forming on your windshield and how to remove ice and snow faster and easier if it’s already on your windshield.

Preventing Ice on Windshield

One way to prevent ice from forming on your windshield is to cover your windshield before a storm and before you go in for the night. You can buy a windshield cover at most auto part stores or make one yourself. If you choose to make one, you can use any durable material, including rubber bath mats or waterproof fabric. Another way to prevent ice on your windshield is to spray your windshield with vinegar or rubbing alcohol before it snows or freezes. If you use alcohol, use 2 parts alcohol and 1 part water. If you use vinegar, use 3 parts vinegar and 1 part water. In the morning or after a storm you’ll see that ice hasn’t formed or is only a thin layer. Be careful not to use hot water, or you’ll create cracks in your windshield.

Removing Ice and Snow

If snow and ice are already covering your windshield, you can use the vinegar or alcohol solution to remove it faster. Simply pour the solution onto your windshield from the top and scrape away the ice with ease. To remove snow faster, try using a broom instead of a small brush. The bigger the brush or broom you use, the faster you can remove the snow.

Other Tips

If you don’t have an ice scraper or deicing solution on hand, you can use a credit card to remove ice. Be careful not to bend your card, or use an old one that won’t cause you problems if it gets damaged. One last trick is to cover your side mirrors with plastic bags before it snows or freezes. When you go outside to use your car you can simply remove the bags and enjoy having clear side mirrors. We hope these simple tricks help save you some time this winter! If you have any questions or would like help finding a personalized solution for your car, feel free to contact us. Learn more about Cascade Collision here.