How to Safely Get Ice Off of Your Car
It's that time of year again. Time to get frustrated in the morning because your car is covered in ice.
From what I've been told over the years, there are right ways and wrong ways of getting ice off of your car. Here are a few tips and tricks I've learned.
-DO: Brush off the snow first. BRUSH. NOT SCRAPE.
-DO NOT: Try to get the snow and ice off with a shovel. Your windshield will NOT thank you for that one.
-Frustrated? Trying hitting your car with an open palm on the trunk or hood to try to loosen any thin layers of ice. It might help. But only hit it with your HAND, nothing else. Don't try to hit it with ANYTHING ELSE (even an ice scraper). Glass is easier to break in the cold. Don't risk it.
-Make sure the radiator grill and exhaust pipes aren't frozen over. They aren't? Then HEAT THAT SUCKER UP! Full blast! All the defrost and butt heaters! Even the headlights!
-Don't try to turn on your windshield wipers until you know they aren't frozen down anymore. It could damage your motor, or make those little suckers snap.
-Use winter-grade windshield wiper fluid. If you don't have any (or you can't find any) you can easily make some by mixing rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dish soap into a spray bottle. Ta-da! Homemade de-icer!
-DO NOT POUR HOT WATER ON YOUR WINDOWS! NO! NO! NO! That will crack them for sure!
-Can't find an ice scraper? Use an old credit card. (Or just find me, because for some reason I have 3 ice scrapers in my backseat...)
What are some tricks you have to successfully get ice off of your car?