Although it’s fun to play in the snow, winter comes with its own challenges, unless, of course, you’re well prepared to handle what Mother Nature throws at you. Here are a few tips on how to prevent your car from turning into an ice cube and how to properly de-ice your vehicle throughout the cold season.

Is Using Hot Water a Good Idea?

Avoid using hot water to de-ice your windshield. The sudden temperature change can crack or shatter the glass. Instead, use warm water to create a film between the ice and your windshield. You can also use a watering can to pour warm water over your windshield and make quick work of any ice.

Let Cold Air Inside

It’s no fun trying to drive with fogged-up windows. In fact, it can be downright dangerous! However, you can do something that may seem a little crazy, especially in the dead of winter. Let a bit of cold, outside air into your car until you can clearly see through the windows.

Don’t worry; this trick doesn’t take 15 minutes. All you have to do is roll down your window a few inches and let the cold air quickly de-fog your windows.

Homemade Car De-icer

Can you de-ice your car windows with products from the pharmacy? Yes, but we’re not talking about dental floss!

Rubbing Alcohol

When your windshield is covered in ice and heavy frost and you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick fix to speed things up.

All you need are two ingredients: water and rubbing alcohol. Simple as that!

Mix 2/3 cups rubbing alcohol with a 1/3 cup water and pour it into a small spray bottle. Cover the outside of your windshield with this solution to quickly melt away any ice.

You can keep this magical mixture in your car all winter long because the freezing point of rubbing alcohol is -114 C.
 

Shaving Cream

Shaving cream may not be available at your local pharmacy, but it’s easy to find at your neighbourhood grocery store. All you need is an absorbent cloth and the said shaving cream.

Apply a small amount of shaving cream directly to the inside of your windshield, and then immediately wipe it off with the cloth. What happens next? You’ll have to wait for a cold, humid day to see for yourself!

Although invisible to the naked eye, the thin layer of shaving cream on your windshield will prevent condensation from forming.

Protect Your Windows From Ice

Do you park your car in the driveway but don’t have a garage or canvas shelter?

If so, place a large towel (big enough to cover the entire surface of your windshield) on your windshield. This will protect it from ice, frost and snow. If you prefer, you can use a canvas tarp.

Lower Your Sun Visor

This is a simple trick! Before parking your car for several hours or overnight, lower the sun visor on the driver and passenger sides to keep warm air near the windshield.

When you start your car, your windows will defrost lightning quick.

Start Your Car and Use the Defrost Function

This is probably the oldest trick in the book! However, here’s a little refresher.

After you’ve cleared the snow off your car, start your vehicle and activate the defrost function. This sends warm air directly to your windshield to quickly melt away any frost that’s formed on the inside and outside of your windows.

Use a Vinegar Solution

This mixture is very similar to the rubbing alcohol solution mentioned above. In fact, if you’re out of rubbing alcohol and don’t mind the smell of vinegar, mix a 1/4 cup of water with 3/4 cups of vinegar.

Pour the solution into a small bottle and spray the mixture onto your windshield. Make sure you do this before the ice has spread to your entire windshield!

Rub an Onion on the Outside of Your Windshield

Did you know you have a great de-icing solution sitting in your fridge? It’s true! You can use an onion to prevent frost from forming on your windshield.

Simply cut the onion in half and rub the cut side all over your windshield the night before a cold snap or when parking your car outside. You can save the other half of the onion for future use or cut it up and put it in a soup.

It’s best to have more than one trick up your sleeve (or in your glove compartment) when winter arrives! Which trick will you use to de-ice your windows?