How to De-Ice a Windshield Fast

How to de-ice a windshield fast in 4 steps

Ensure your wipers aren’t on

If your wipers have frozen in place and you start the car whilst they’re on, you risk damaging the wiper motor. The rubber could also tear, causing damage to your windscreen.

Turn your engine on

Get your engine going and direct the warm air blower onto your front and rear windscreens. You should also turn the air con on to clear any condensation build-up.

It’s illegal to drive with impaired vision, so no matter how tempting it is, remember not to use your hands to wipe the inside of your windows. You’ll likely leave smears which will impact driving visibility.

Similarly, always stay with your car when you have the engine running. It’s illegal to leave a car unattended on the street. Not to mention an open invitation for thieves -even in your front driveway.

If you’ve got a new car model, your vehicle may have remote heating technology that you can use to defrost from afar. If not and you’re after a car with high-tech solutions for all weathers, you can always secure a car loan quote from My Car Credit.

Clear snow

If there’s any snow on your windscreens, use a soft brush or cloth to clear it. You can also use the same to clear the car’s front grille. And before setting off, ensure that your electricals – most importantly your lights – are working.

Use a scraper and de-icer

Use a proper scraper to remove any ice from your windscreen. Don’t use anything that comes to hand, as they might scratch and damage the windscreen, and your hands may leave smears.

You can also use a de-icing spray or your own mixture (combine one-third water with two-thirds rubbing alcohol) to mist the screen.

What not to do when de-icing a windscreen

Never use hot water

Don’t believe the stories – you shouldn’t use either hot or lukewarm water to de-ice a windshield fast. The water might re-freeze as it makes contact with cold air, causing the windscreen glass to crack or chip. Plus, this newly frozen water will then become another layer of ice, and you’ll be back to where you started.

Avoid other gimmicks or hacks

If you’re in a rush and your windscreen is iced up, it’s frustrating. But you shouldn’t ever try any gimmicks or hacks, as these are more likely than not to cause damage to your windscreen.

Small cracks can become larger ones and result in an expensive replacement. And remember, driving with impaired vision – including smears and streaks – is illegal.

Car finance for your cold weather car

The most up-to-date vehicles have remote heating technology. If that sounds good to you, secure car finance for your dream car today with My Car Credit – contact us on enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk.