We may earn revenue from the products uncommitted on this page and take part in affiliate programs . Learn More ›

With winter come in coke and ice — cover the sess , on the walkway , and all over cable car windows . When you walk out to your car to find the window covered in ice , the first thing you ’ll desire to reach for is an ice scraper . However , it is n’t always that unproblematic . Sometimes you ca n’t find yourice scraper , recognize it is in your spouse ’s car , or remember that you never bought a replacement after the old one broke last wintertime .

as luck would have it , there are several everyday detail that you probably have lying around the house or garage that can help you out . Just remember to work carefully when realize the window to avoid scrape up it — this also applies when using an genuine ice scraper . In a pinch , you’re able to habituate some common token to clear your windshield if an ice scraper is not uncommitted .

Things You Can Use When You Don’t Have an Ice Scraper - frozen windshield

Photo: istockphoto.com

Credit Card

If there is only a thin layer of ice on the windscreen , grab a mention card from your notecase . employ the recognition card like a small version of an chicken feed scraper . Use the edge to slowly absent small chunks of ice from the window .

You might discover that the credit entry posting is too small to well manipulate while wearing baseball mitt , so your hand could get a little cold as you work . This also might not be the best solution for shorter individual or those with van , trucks , or SUVs with higher windscreen ; your mention card is n’t go to have a long handle like you could find with some ice scrapers .

Rubbing Alcohol and Water

Just as rubbing alcohol can aid youmelt ice on walkways when you do n’t have saltavailable , it can also help oneself you evaporate ice on a windshield . If there is Baron Snow of Leicester over the frappe on the windscreen , you ’ll want to remove that first using a gloved script , heather , or another prick that wo n’t scratch the windshield . Then , mix a 2:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle . Spray the assortment over the entire windshield and let it sit for two minutes . After two minute have passed , the ice should have bend into slush . Turn on the car ’s windscreen wipers to clear away the slush .

While this can be an in effect result for remove methamphetamine hydrochloride from a windshield , it will not work if the temperature outside is below 5 arcdegree Fahrenheit . scratch intoxicant will freeze when the temperature are this small , so it wo n’t be of much help when endeavor to pass your windshield .

Plastic Spatula

An ice scraper may be one of thebest tools for conquering frappe and snow , but it is n’t the only affair you’re able to use to clear an icy windscreen . A spatula , the same tool you use to flip over pancakes and Warren E. Burger , can also help you get the methamphetamine off of your windscreen . Metal spatulas could scratch or cause other damage to a windscreen , however , so you ’ll only desire to utilise a plastic spatula for this project . check a spatula with gloves on will be easier than seek to handle a recognition card , too , so you’re able to hopefully keep your hands a number warmer as you work .

Salt and Water

Salt is spread on roadways to fade snow and frosting and prevent them from creating hazardous conditions . It can also be used to meld chalk on a windshield . Remove snow from the windshield to expose the layer of ice . Then add together three cups of water ( at room temperature — not hot ) and 1.5 tablespoons of salt to a nebuliser nursing bottle . Spray this mixture over the intact windshield and let it pose for about 5 minutes to dissolve the meth . Turn on the windscreen wipers to crystalize the slushy remains .

This result should only be used in a tweak ; using too much salt on auto meth can cause tiny abrasions in the airfoil of the glass , leave behind unsightly mineral deposits , and even sabotage the structure of the glass .

Plastic Dustpan

If your garage is near your service program room or storage expanse for cleaning product , you have an well-off crank scraper substitute at hand . A plastic dustpan used with a Scots heather can be turn upside down and used to clear your windshield . Of naturally you ’ll want to clean it off first if it has any remaining detritus or rubble from your last sweeping seance so you do n’t tot dirt to your windshield as you remove ice . Remember too that the charge card is not as sturdy as an methamphetamine scraper , so do n’t utilise too much power . Warming the windscreen first with the deicer or a strong water answer would make this alternative quicker .

Bonus: Don’t defrost too fast.

Turning the automobile ’s defrost on is one of the safest options when it do to removing icing from a windscreen . You wo n’t need to worry about accidentally scratch the windshield if you have the defrost take attention of thaw the ice-skating rink from the inside for you .

But often when citizenry are in a hurry , they turn the defrost way up . Whether you ’re in a precipitation or not , you ’ll want to avoid setting the defrost to the mellow temperature option . While this may seem like the best idea to speed up the process , it will expose the glass to a very sudden temperature change , which can do existing chips or cracks to get worse . Rather , set it to a medium heat and lease it run for at least 15 minutes . After this , you should be able-bodied to pass most of the sparkler using your windscreen wipers .

This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation

Things You Can Use When You Don’t Have an Ice Scraper - man scraping windshield snow

Photo: istockphoto.com

Whether you ’re sell or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . see why we conceive this redevelopment the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .

Things You Can Use When You Don’t Have an Ice Scraper - hand spraying frozen windshield

Photo: istockphoto.com

Things You Can Use When You Don’t Have an Ice Scraper - spatula ice scraper

Photo: mainstreetmechanic.com

Things You Can Use When You Don’t Have an Ice Scraper - spray bottle windshield

Photo: istockphoto.com

Things You Can Use When You Don’t Have an Ice Scraper - orange plastic snow scraper

Photo: istockphoto.com

Article image