How to Scrape Frost Off Your Windshield Safely

The other morning I entertained the children at our bus stop here in Florida by scraping the frost off my windshield and making it into snowballs for them. It was the only "snow" many of them had ever seen. It was sweet and funny until I saw some of their parents trying to defrost their own windshields - in some pretty creative and dangerous ways. Here are a few suggestions to help you defrost your car windows safely, no matter where you live.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   If your car looks like this, you're not going anywhere. Go back to bed.

   Prevent frost from forming on your windshield in the first place. There are a number of ways to prevent windshields from icing over, and they're particularly useful in places where the cold isn't too bone-chilling. Try parking your car with the windshield facing a building, or aimed to get the first morning sun. Or try covering your windshield with an old blanket before a cold night.

2. Scrape your windshield safely. Not everyone carries a proper ice-scraper in their car, but there are other safe alternatives. A CD case works well, or a plastic scraper from the kitchen. What matters most is that the scraper is of a softer material than the scrapee, i.e. your expensive windshield.

3. 
   Sid the Sloth and stick

   Avoid the most common, and worst mistakes. The first, and worst, one has to be pouring hot water on your windshield. You'll burn yourself and crack your windshield and then the water will just refreeze. Also avoid overreaching to try to scrape the center of a large or high windshield, or climbing up on an icy vehicle. In either case, you'll just strain yourself or scratch the paint on your car. If you have to improvise, make sure you use a scraper which won't scratch or cut you or your car. Did you see Ice Age? Don't poke yourself in the eye with a stick like Sid. Finally, never hit your windshield in an attempt to crack the ice. The final score will be ice, 1, windshield O.

4. Ideally, just start your vehicle and let it warm up while you scrape the windshield gently with a plastic scraper. Don't let your car idle too long, or you'll waste gas and money. Just leave yourself a few extra minutes, and you'll have plenty of time to safely defrost your windshield.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to scrape off your whole windshield and all your other windows so you can see to drive safely.
• Scraping a windshield burns calories, warms you up, and makes your backside wiggle attractively.

[jae603]

on 1/19/2009 Good advice - thanks for the help.

[Karenc1972]

on 1/18/2009 Great, timely article that should help avoid de-icing pitfalls. Thanks for sharing!