One of the many perks of owning a car is having to clear the snow and ice off of it during the Winter. While it's not one of the most joyous tasks, we can tell you that making sure you scrape off your icy car is worth the amount of time spent outside getting cold.
Driving with a snow or ice covered vehicle is DANGEROUS!
There have been countless times we have witnessed ice flying off of cars and slamming into windshields. You will be liable for damages caused by ice flying off of your vehicle! We have also seen drivers lose control when they try to brake and a large sheet of ice comes crashing onto their windshield. Most insurances will not cover damages done to your own vehicle from neglecting to remove snow or ice from your vehicle. In some states, driving around with a snow-covered vehicle is ILLEGAL!
So PLEASE, uncover your cars all the way around. From lights, to windows to roofs.
The best option is to park in a garage to avoid having to clear off your car, but not everyone has a garage! If you don't, use these tips to help make this tedious task, a simpler one.
Remote Start/Defrost. If you have remote start, USE IT! If not, be sure to turn on the front and rear defrost as soon as you start clearing off the snow and ice.
Don't use hot water! The quick temperature change can cause your windows to break and what falls on the ground can create an a dangerous ice patch.
Start on the Top! Start clearing your vehicle from the top and work your way down. Make sure you clear the roof! This should be the first thing you clear on your vehicle.
Give yourself enough time! Scraping off ice can be time consuming, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to clear off your vehicle.
Frozen Locks. Use hand sanitizer to help thaw a frozen door lock. Just a small dab on your key will do the trick! No hand sanitizer? Try blowing through a straw aimed at your lock to thaw the ice.
De-Icer. If you're running a bit behind, try using a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle to help melt the ice on frozen windows. or consider buying window de-icer. Just be careful, sometimes these things can freeze making the ice thicker and your task a little bit harder in the end.
Park facing East. If you know there will be icy or snowy conditions over night, park facing East. The heat from the morning sun will help to de-ice your windshield, even before you get up!
Frozen Doors. Spray a bit of WD-40 or cooking oil onto the rubber seals of your door, this will help keep them from freezing over and sealing your door shut.
Window Ice Prevention. The night before, spray a mixture of three parts vinegar and one part water onto your windows and squeegee off the excess. This will help keep your windows from frosting over, however it doesn't always work during sever weather.
Don't Pull on Frozen Wipers! Pulling on frozen wipers can damage them! Instead scrape off any ice around them and let the defrost melt away the ice.
As always, be careful driving in snowy or icy weather conditions. Give yourself enough time and plan ahead. Be sure to keep an Emergency Kit in your vehicle, just in case.
J&S FixQuik Automotive | Mobile Auto Repair Service | Aurora, IL
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