If you have to park your vehicle outdoors for any reason during winter, you know you’ll eventually need to de-ice your windshield. If you’re lucky, the sun might make an appearance and accomplish a large part of the job for you. But if it’s nighttime or early morning and you’re in a hurry to get going, you’ll need to practice safe de-icing of your windshield to avoid auto glass repairs.

Below, the experts at Only 1 Auto Glass explain how to safely de-ice your auto glass to avoid windshield repairs.

If You’re De-Icing With a Tool, Make Sure It’s Plastic

If you have a dedicated ice scraper in your vehicle, great! That’s what you should always use for de-icing to avoid scratching your auto glass and needing windshield repairs. But if you don’t have an ice scraper to get the job done, whatever you do, don’t use metal tools!

Using tools that are super rigid or hard to de-ice your auto glass is a disaster waiting to happen. You can easily scratch or chip the glass with just a hair too much pressure or a slip of the wrist. And without prompt windshield repair, that damage is likely to grow since chips and cracks are susceptible to spreading as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.  

Avoid Chipping or Pounding at the Ice

Even when you use a plastic ice scraper to de-ice your windshield, you need to use it properly. Whatever you do — even if the ice is super thick and stuck on — don’t pound or chip at it! Your windshield is vulnerable to damage in extreme temperatures.

When it’s frigid outside, the glass gradually becomes more concave, which lessens its stability slightly. And when you repeatedly exert force against the windshield, there’s a chance you can crack it. If you’re hoping to avoid auto glass repairs, use your de-icing tool the way it’s designed to be used: for scraping only.

Use Tepid Water

If you’re in a major hurry and need to de-ice your windshield quickly, but you can’t seem to find your scraper, try using tepid (never hot!) water to get the job done. To de-ice auto glass with tepid water, all you need to do is pour the water slowly and steadily onto the glass.

It’s also a good idea to have your defrost on while you do this. But make sure you always start your defrost on low and gradually increase it to high to avoid exposing your windshield to a drastic temperature shift. Much like an ice cube cracks when it’s exposed to a sudden, dramatic temperature change, your auto glass can do the same thing.

Did you recently notice a minor crack or a few chips in your windshield? Bring your vehicle to our expert repair technicians at Only 1 Auto Glass. We specialize in all types of auto glass repair and replacement and offer mobile repairs for those who can’t make it to one of our shops.

To get a free repair estimate, schedule an appointment, or learn more about our services, give us a call today at 651-789-1111 or send us a message, and we’ll be in touch.