How To Quickly De-Ice Your Car
Many people can relate to the frustration of running late to work due to snow and ice on their car. Melting that snow and ice can take a while, especially if you don't know what to do. You’re not alone if you ever wondered how to de-ice your car fast.
You can quickly de-ice your car by turning it on, running the defroster, and spraying the windshield with rubbing alcohol and warm water. Use warm water instead of hot water, or else you may accidentally shatter your windows. You can also quickly de-ice your car using a commercial de-icer containing glycols and alcohol.
This is much easier if your car has a remote start feature, which you can install for $200 to $600. You can avoid many problems by covering your car with a cover before it snows. Follow along as we explore how to de-ice your car fast so you never run late this winter.
How To Melt The Ice On Your Car
1. Blast The Car Heat
Before doing anything else, you must start your car and blast the heat as high as possible. If you have seat warmers, it’s also a good idea to turn them on, at least temporarily. Turn the defrosters on to melt the ice on your windshield and back window as well.
Never set your car to circulate outside air on cold, snowy days, or you may make your problem worse. In that case, cold air will constantly cycle throughout your car, and it’ll take longer to heat up. Crack the windows occasionally to increase the humidity as the warm and cold air mix.
However, you shouldn’t leave your windows down for more than a minute. Scrape your windows and brush the snow off your car’s roof once the car starts to heat up.
2. Spray Your Car With Rubbing Alcohol And Water
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, can help you quickly de-ice your car during the winter. However, you must mix it with slightly warm water to achieve the best results. That’s because warm water will melt the ice, and the alcohol will lower the water’s freezing point.
This way, you melt some ice, then ensure the water doesn’t re-freeze, which would worsen the issue. Fill a spray bottle halfway to the top with warm water, then fill the rest with rubbing alcohol. Never use boiling or scalding water, or else you may damage your car.
Doing so may cause thermal shock, which can shatter your car’s windows. As your car heats up, spray the windows and windshield wipers with the solution. This should help you quickly de-ice your car, so you can easily scrape it off.
3. Use A Commercial De-Icer
Have you ever used a commercial de-icer on your car? Commercial de-icers work similarly to the DIY rubbing alcohol and water solution we mentioned. These store-bought de-icers contain glycols and alcohol, which can melt the ice on your car.
It’s important to read the label before using a de-icer, as it will tell you how much to use. Using too much can make a mess, and it may even discolor your car’s paint, in extreme cases. The de-icer can help you scrape the ice off your car much easier than usual.
It’s a good idea to keep a commercial de-icer in your car throughout the winter. Of course, you shouldn’t smoke or hold open flames near the bottle, as it contains alcohol. However, having the de-icer in your car means you can get out of quick jams if you get snowed in at work.
4. Remotely Start Your Car
Some people run on tight schedules before work and personal obligations. Because of that, scraping their cars and waiting for them to heat up can waste time. However, that’s not such an issue if your car has a remote start feature, which is a blessing during the winter.
A remote start feature lets you start your car from afar by pressing a button on the fob. In doing so, your car will start and begin heating before you even set foot outside. Granted, you may still need to scrape some of the remaining ice and snow off your car when you go outside.
However, it beats marching out into the cold, starting your car, and scraping off the snow and ice for five minutes. Today, many cars come with a remote start feature, but you can modify an older car to include this feature. You can expect to spend roughly $450 to install a remote start function, or up to $600.
5. Cover Your Car Before Snow Arrives
Preventative measures are typically better than dealing with a problem on a limited timeframe. During the winter, the best preventive measure for your car is to put a snow cover on it. Today, you can find affordable snow covers meant to protect your car from snow, ice, and moisture.
This cover will keep snow and ice off your car, so all you must worry about is the snow on the ground. However, this only works well if you put the cover on your car before it snows. If you put a snow cover on a wet car, you may find a layer of ice between the windshield and the cover.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast so you know when to put the cover on your car. Later, all you must do is turn the car on, blast the defroster, and shovel the ground around your car. You may make a small mess when removing the cover, but that’s better than finding your car buried in snow.
6. Use A Cordless Hairdryer
Many people use traditional hairdryers to melt ice on their home’s entry doors when they freeze during winter. However, you can get more bang for your buck with a cordless hairdryer, especially if you must de-ice your car fast.
That said, you must be careful, as heating windows can easily shatter them. You’re better off heating your windshield with the defroster and warming your car’s door handles with the hairdryer. You can also use the hairdryer to de-ice your car’s door hinges.
In theory, you could use a traditional hairdryer with a cord, but that’s risky. In that case, you’d have to rely on a nearby outlet, and there’s a chance you’d expose it to water. That is too risky, unless the outlet is in your garage and there’s no way water will reach it.
Can You Put Salt On Your Car To Melt Ice?
While you can put salt on your car to melt ice, most car experts will tell you it’s a bad idea, and they’re right. That’s because salt is quite corrosive and can quickly damage your car, both internally and externally. Externally, you run the risk of discoloring and staining your car’s body, which isn’t worth the risk.
Internally, there’s a chance that the salt will damage the metal internal components in your car. Salt can expedite the corrosion of most metals, including the ones in your fuel and brake lines. That alone should make you think twice before putting salt on your car to melt ice.
As the ice and snow melt, the water will mix with the ice and worsen the corrosion that’s going on. You may put yourself at risk by putting salt on your car during the winter. After all, brake and suspension problems can cause dangerous accidents, and they’re expensive to repair.
Summing It Up
You can quickly de-ice your car by turning it on and cranking the heat on the defrosters. Let the heat run for up to 2 minutes before scraping your car to ensure it’s as easy to clean as possible. You can also melt the snow and ice with a commercial defroster or a DIY solution containing rubbing alcohol and lukewarm water.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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