Safe techniques to defrost the windshield

To remove ice from the windshield can be a difficult task, but there are some known tricks and techniques that you can follow:

• With frozen glass, many might believe that using hot water is the fastest technique for defrosting the windshield, but quite the contrary, this abrupt change in temperature, from cold to heat, could break the windshield, thus making it an unsafe technique.
• A homemade technique to easily remove ice from the windshield is to mix 1/3 of water with 2/3 of alcohol, place it on the glass and then use a cloth or a scraper. Another alternative liquid to use, apart from lukewarm water, is to use burning alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.
• There are also products on the market that will help you to clean the frozen windshield. You can buy it in specialized stores for car products in countries where it has heavy snowfall. When using any of these techniques, it is always recommended to have a clean cloth or a plastic scraper.
• Another problem in strong cold weather is fogged glass that prevents visibility. Never use your hands to clean your windshield, this will only make the situation worse because of the sweat we produce on them. Better to turn on the car defroster or use a clean cloth. ​

• Start the car, turn on the heat by focusing the jets of air toward the windshield, and wait for a few minutes for the temperature to melt the ice. This technique is perfect if you are not in a hurry. If there is too much ice it is not a functional technique. It is important to place the heating with the car just started, cold, so that the temperature rises little by little. ​

• You can use a rubber brush: this technique can be very useful when your car has a few centimeters of snow. It is specified that it must be a rubber brush, thus it will avoid causing damage to the windshield. The home broom should not be used; it is not recommended because of the dirt that accumulates. It must be a specific brush for the car. With the brush, the snow is gradually removed to scratch, without applying much force. ​

• Another way to defrost the windshield of the car is to use a snow scraper. This element will help to remove snow from the windshield that prevents vision and makes driving difficult. The technique with this scraper, itself, is to do it from the outside to the center of the windshield. Many people focus on removing snow from the areas necessary to see only, but we recommend removing the rest of the snow. ​

• You should not turn on the windshield wiper brushes to try to remove the snow, they will surely get stuck in the snow and could damage them. It could also damage the motor that causes them to move. It should only be operated after removing ice from the windshield. ​

• Remember that the best technique is always prevention. You can leave the car covered overnight and when not in use, if the car is exposed for a long time in the open. You can use a cardboard, newspaper, sheet or towel to cover the windshield before snow forms. ​

• Do not rush when removing ice from the windshield as it could damage it, it should not be removed in a hurry. Start your day a little earlier than expected, so you can spend time cleaning the windshield. Avoid driving without removing ice correctly. ​

• Be aware of the weather forecast through television or the internet. This will allow you to anticipate the snow fall and take the preventive measures that we have described. Remember that the main thing is not to damage the windshield, and you should not use non-plastic scrapers, hot water or salt. Hot water causes a breaking effect immediately due to the extreme temperature difference between the liquid and the ice. ​

Have a safe trip!