Icy Windows in Winter? The "Quick and Easy" on De-Icing Your Windshield!

Besides being a pain in the neck, an icy windshield is a huge safety hazard. If all you do is rely on your in-dash heater to solve your ice problem you can set yourself up big time for potential road hazards. It goes without saying that during icy conditions and snowy weather, your car's windshield should be one of your first - if not THE first -- priority.

Anytime you risk having your vision impaired - and that's what happens if you don't get rid of the ice and snow on your windshield - you are making yourself a safety hazard for everyone driving around you. Your chances of getting and being part of accidents is greater because you cannot see what you are driving into or driving through.

Too many individuals rely on HOT WATER in the early morning to de-ice their windshield. But what happens with water? It FREEZES! The hot water may temporarily solve the problem. But once you start driving and the cold air and snow hits that still-slick/wet surface, the windshield is going to freeze over again.

However, you can remedy this situation. Having an icy and snowy windshield is not a reason for you keep your car parked in your garage. You still can use it as long as you know how to de-ice your windshield. It should take no more than a couple of minutes of your time. And after that, you would be well on your way towards safely driving from point A to point B.

This is almost too easy -- but you'd be surprised how many people blow this off.

First off -- start your engine and turn on your heater. Turn it to the hottest setting possible. Make sure you put the dial to defrost -- the symbol (you've seen it, it looks like a little grating with arrows on it) that push the airflow up out of the vent and onto your inner windshield. Let the heat run for a few minutes. And for Pete's sake make sure your garage door is open or you car is outside so you don't choke yourself.

Get out of your car and start brushing any snow off your car's windshield. Now pop you hood and open up the container for windshield solution. Let me preface this by saying that you should first empty this reservoir. It's probably just filled with water. And what does water do - it FREEZES. So get rid of the liquid. You are going to refill the windshield wiper reservoir with a combination of water and vinegar. I say 1:2. One part water and two parts vinegar. My personal favorite is a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol. There are probably other home remedies I'm not aware of. Once you have put in the solution, get in the car and spray your windshield and run the wiper blades. The solution will cut through the frost residue and leave your windshield spotless. Remember -- the heater is still running, so you are blasting the windshield on two fronts.

During the winter, an interesting phenomenon can occur when there is snow on your car. It can be very dangerous. If there is a large amount of snow over the back of the hood (closest to the windshield), be sure to remove it BEFORE turning on your defroster. If you don't, the heater will pull in the cold, moist air, which will cool the air near the windshield to below its dew point. When this happens, your windshield can become nearly opaque. In some cases, it can take up to 15 minutes for this to happen, so you could get caught on the highway with zero visibility. Take heed. I've had this happen before, and when it does, there's really not much you can do but pull over and wait for the air to rise above its dew point again.

Hot water can crack a windshield, but lukewarm water does the job in seconds without the risk of cracking. Boil a very small amount of water in the kettle (few inches), fill the rest with cold water (you should be able to put your hand in the water and it feel lukewarm). Turn the engine on, turn the blowers on (avoids condensation), turn the wipers on (to get rid of the water quickly) and simply pour over the windshield. Not recommended in temperatures below -6 degrees since it will ice up again very quickly before the wipers can get it off.

Wasn't that easy? But hold on because we're not finished yet. Let's spend a few minutes talking about windshield wiper blades….

Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Especially during the winter months! Although drivers depend on their vehicles' wiper blades to clear away rain, sleet and snow, many wait to replace them until they need them the most. So remembering to maintain them regularly can maximize efficiency and reliability. Wiper blades deteriorate due to many environmental factors including:

Snow/Sleet/Rain: The constant movement of the blades wears them down

Sun: Ultraviolet light and ozone deterioration

Oil: Car waxes and exhaust hold rubber-deteriorating oil

Moisture: Acid rain and salt water (in moist air both near the shore and inland)

Remember, wiper blades should be checked every six months and changed at least once a year. Evaluate both the rubber squeegee and the metal frames to avoid common problems such as streaking, skipping, wearing and splitting - all offenders of reduced visibility and slowed reaction time.

Streaking occurs when the rubber squeegee dries, hardens and cracks. It can also be caused by tree sap, road tar and other foreign substances collected on either the glass or the blade. Skipping occurs when the blade develops a curvature from lack of use (e.g.: left in the 'parked position' for an extended length of time).Wearing occurs with extensive use and is when the rubber edges are rounded instead of squared. Splitting is caused when the sun's ultraviolet rays penetrate the rubber squeegee, causing it to breakdown and separate from the frame.

Don't become a statistic this holiday season because you are too lazy to take the proper precautions when cleaning your icy windshield. Be ice-free and be safe this holiday season!