How to Get Ice Off Windshield? 8 Best Ways

Winter weather can be beautiful, but it can also be a hassle when driving. One common problem many people face during the colder months is ice build-up on their windshields. Not only is this a nuisance, but it can also be dangerous if not removed properly.

This blog post will cover all effective methods for getting rid of ice on your windshield so you can safely hit the road. Whether you’re in a rush to get to work or just want to be able to see clearly while driving, these tips will help you quickly and easily remove ice from your car’s windshield. So, let’s get started!

8 Ways To Get Ice Off Windshield

Many people live a very busy lifestyle and therefore do not have much time to give to tasks such as removing ice from a frozen windshield in the morning. In this section, we’ll cover 8 different methods of removing ice from car windshields in the most convenient way.

1. Use Defrosters

Defrosters are part of almost any car. They are a mechanism of heating you can direct towards the car’s windshield and back window. This method is convenient because you can just sit in the car and wait until the windshield defrosts.

However, this method requires a long time to remove the ice from the windshield. Factors that affect it are cold, how thick the ice layer is and if there is any snow.

This process takes between 15 to 30 minutes to finish getting ice off the windshield. If you are in a hurry, try turning on your car and its defrosters and use one of the next methods described below in combination with them.

Car Cabin Heater

Some cars have internal cabin heaters. They are installed in newer cars. It works by heating the car’s air without turning it on.

That way, you come into a warm car right away. These internal cabin heaters along with other options, are usually regulated by the car brand app. For example, Volvo has a homonymous app that the user downloads to their phone and regulates heating, locking and unlocking, and other features.

Related article: How to Stop Car Windows From Fogging Up in Winter

2. Ice Scrapers

Most of us know that ice scrapers are a very useful tool for de-icing and great to have in the car if you run out of other options. This applies especially to all those living in countries where winters get extremely cold.

There are ways to tell apart ice scrapers that will work well and those that won’t. Usually, the most effective ice scrapers have both the scraper and brush sides.

The scraper side is used to scrape ice, while the brush side is usually used to remove the snow before scraping. That’s why those scrapers are usually the best options.

Here are some good well-recognized brands of scrapers:

• Snow Joe Telescoping Snow Broom
• Hopkins SubZero
• Mallory Snow Brush

3. Spray de-icers

Spray de-icers are one of the best options for defrosting the car’s windshield. They are popular since they prevent people from scraping the ice off the glass and having their hands and fingers frozen. It usually takes around 10 minutes to melt the ice completely.

If you are in a hurry, use the spray with the scraper. It will do the job perfectly! We recommend these popular brands of spray de-icers that you can order online on Amazon or purchase in local supermarkets like Walmart and Ralphs:

• SPLASH Red Hot Windshield Trigger De-Icer Spray
• CRC Ice-Off Windshield Spray
• Prestone Windshield Trigger De-Icer Spray

4. Spray Bottle Brews Methods

If you choose to make your spray de-icer, there are a few different home options.

• Rubbing Alcohol – This is the most used home remedy option. Mix this alcohol and water in a ratio of 1:3, 1 being water and three being rubbing alcohol. Make sure the water is at room temperature. If you don’t have exactly rubbing alcohol, other combinations with isopropyl will work.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Just like in the case of the rubbing alcohol concoction, mix apple cider vinegar with room temperature water in a ratio of 1:3, 1 being water and 3 being apple cider vinegar. This liquid works better as a prevention method for ice gathering on the windshield. We suggest using it the night before driving the car.
• Salt Water – This de-icing brew is great for melting the ice of the windshield in the morning. We suggest putting half a cup of salt into a spray bottle and pouring in some water.

All of the options above can be placed into a regular plastic spray bottle that you can purchase online on amazon or any local container store you have close by.

5. Cardboard

Cardboard is a cheap and easy solution to prevent ice from your windshield. You can get a piece of cardboard almost anywhere.

If you have some leftover boxes in your garage, try using those, and if not, you can get cardboard from a woodshop or an arts and crafts store, or you can even try asking the cashier in a grocery store if they have some spare boxes.

To ensure the cardboard is the right size, measure your windshield and cut out an adequate size to fit it perfectly.

This won’t completely prevent ice from clinging to the windshield, but it will stop it partially. It will also be easier to remove any snow that landed on top of the windshield if there is a piece of cardboard underneath.

6. Wet Blankets

Another option you can use to get off the ice from your windshield is wet blankets. Take a blanket you do not use anymore and place it in a bathtub or shower.

Wet it with room temperature water and cover it with a hefty salt. If you have a bathtub, it would be best to block the water flow and leave it soaking in salty water for a while.

Once the blanket is done soaking, place the drenched blanket into a plastic bag and carry it to your car. Once you have reached your windshield, remove the wet blanket and put it on it. We suggest doing this the night before.

This might be a bit lengthy of a process, but it comes in handy for days you know you won’t have a lot of time to defrost your windshield, for really cold days, or days you plan on traveling.

7. Use Garage

Parking your car in a garage might seem obvious, but it is also an option that should be considered. If you do not have a garage in your building or house, don’t worry.

ShelterLogic makes durable and high-quality portable garages you can place in front of your home. These portable garages are an all-season garage in a box and work well for keeping ice off your car.

8. Potatoes

Potatoes also work in this case. Try slicing a raw potato in half and scrubbing it onto your windshield the night before. The sugar from the potatoes is a barrier between your windshield and the ice and therefore works as a freezing repellant.

If you want to learn more, be sure to watch this Youtube video:

Related article: How To Defog Windshield In Summer? (7 Best Ways)

Avoid These 3 Defrosting Methods

Using reliable methods is important because some ice-removing techniques do more damage than good. Here are some techniques we suggest staying away from:

• Metal Scrapers: Metal scrapers might be a bit stronger than plastic ones, and they scrape ice more efficiently, but they could cause a lot of damage to the windshield. Scratch marks on the windshield glass are not worth the tiny bit faster-scraping method. The Brass ice scrapers with a metal component that doesn’t cause damage are the only ones.
• Hairdryers: Hair dryers can also damage your windshield, other than being very inconvenient to plug in if your car is parked outside. That’s because hair dryers unevenly heat up the glass surface, making one part expand under increased temperatures. This can cause the glass to crack.
• Hot Water: The same applies to applying hot water as it does to hair dryers. Because of unequal temperature increases on the surface, the windshield can easily crack.

FAQ: People Also Ask

How do you get ice off the windshield without vinegar?

Use salt and warm water, mix them up, pour them into a spray bottle, and spray them onto the windshield. Be careful not to spray too much of the mixture because it can harm your windshield’s glass. Remove the last bits of ice on the windshield by pouring a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water.

Does vinegar melt ice?

The chemicals, called acetic acids, in vinegar, reduce the melting point and therefore help melt ice. However, alternatives like rock salt and others mentioned above do a much better job of melting ice than vinegar does. Vinegar may be used alone, just like isopropyl alcohol, but it is much more effective in combination with hot water.

Can you pour hot water on a frozen windshield?

Both The Automobile Association (AA) and The American Automobile Association (AAA) advise against pouring hot water on a car’s windshield because it may result in the windshield glass cracking or even shattering due to the quick and abrupt change in temperature.

Does soapy water melt ice?

If you wish to speed up the melting process, you can mix rubbing alcohol, hot water, and dish soap. This mixture will make the surface dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and hot water works together to prevent future icing and hasten the melting process. When the mixture is placed upon snowy or icy surfaces, it will bubble up and then melt.

Final Thoughts

As we have seen in this article, there are many different methods by which you can remove ice from the windshield. Some methods are more efficient than others, but it all depends on what you have available at your home. I hope that after this you will no longer have problems with frozen windows in the early morning and that you will use one of the methods on your car. If you have any additional questions, feel free to comment below.