<p>I am a senior who recently obtained a car. As it is winter, I am having trouble getting all the frost off my windows before driving to school. I was wondering if any of you had any tips for dealing with this issue as I am not sure how useful the advice of my peers will be in this situation…</p>
<p>(One friend has suggested pouring hot water over the frost but I worry that this may damage the glass…)</p>
<p>Don’t use hot water- if it is freezing- it is just going to ice up again.
:rolleyes:
Howabout an ice scraper?
<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_scraper[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_scraper</a>
They sell them at gas stations/auto parts stores.
Alternatively, you can put a cover over your windshield at night.</p>
<p>an old large bath towel placed on the windows the night before.
warning, take towels off windows before driving. </p>
<p>Frost has a greater affinity to towels than glass. :)</p>
<p>Stop by the closest Auto supply store, and pick up a good quality ice scraper. The one we have that works best has a clear lucite scraper blade. While you are in there, chat up the staff and get their opinion on Rain-X [Rain-X:</a> Outsmart the Elements | Wiper Blades, Windshield Treatments, Weather Bug and Tar repellent products for your car, Weatherbeater, Latitude, weather, glass, vehicle, visibility](<a href=“http://www.rainx.com/]Rain-X:”>http://www.rainx.com/) I’ve had really good results with that keeping the windshield clean in rainy weather, and some people report that it helps reduce frost and fog as well.</p>
<p>Wow thank you for all the quick replies! :)</p>
<p>@emeraldkity4 , I have been using an ice scraper but have not found it to be very helpful. 
It might be a little old though, so perhaps I just need a new one?</p>
<p>@LongPrime, that’s a good idea. I will consider it…</p>
<p>@happymomof1, thank you for the link! :D</p>
<p>Also, I should probably mention that I reside in an apartment building so my car is always parked in an outdoor parking lot…</p>
<p>If you have been using an ice scraper- I would try a new one but also I agree that Rain-X is great.
( However in emergencies I have used a credit card so wondering just exactly what you are doing wrong? I have also used a pancake turner so it may be your scraper is just really beat up)
It makes the rain just sheet off the windshield and may make scraping less of a chore.</p>
<p>I spent big chunks of my life in MI and WI, and the only thing I’ve ever used is an ice scraper PLUS a little pre-planning. That means heading out to the car about 10 minutes before you really need to leave, turning it on, and running both front and rear defrosters. They will loosen things up and make the scraping relatively easy (unless you want to get really lazy and sit in the car running the windshield wipers until they finally do some good).</p>
<p>As stupid as it sounds turn the heat up full and turn on the air conditioner. The A/C has a dehumidifier and that in itself will help to remove and reduce frost. I am from the Great White North and had one car that was prone to frosting up after scrapping and when I started driving, talked to the mechanic and he told me about the A/C and I have done it ever since.</p>
<p>A combination of front/rear window defrosters and scraping is part of the routine. It could happen some day that the bath towel gets stuck to the windshield so be careful about where it touches at the edges- any frozen water under it means you have to defrost to remove it. I imagine the air conditioner will help with inside humidity/fogging- something to also consider in rain. I expect the dry heat from the heater will work just as well and you don’t need to remember to turn it off to save energy. Remember to use heat direction controls after the defoggers turn off if you need to keep the front windshield frost free when it is snowing heavily. btw- never use hot water to unfreeze door locks- some will remain and freeze later. If you have access to an electric outlet/extension cord a hair dryer works on door locks.</p>
<p>Wow. Thank you everyone! 
This is very helpful!!</p>
<p>@emeraldkity4, Well it’s really more that it does not work efficiently or fast enough for me than that the scraper is defective…</p>
<p>@MyLB, I might do that as well. I remember my father used to do that about 20 minutes before we left for school and it was great because the frost was always gone when we left and the inside was nice and toasty. :)</p>
<p>@percussiondad, Really? I did not know that. That sounds like a great idea. I will try that. Will it make the car very cold though?</p>
<p>@wis75, Yeah; I’m not sure if I will use a bath towel as I share the parking lot with my building and unforunately, I can’t trust all of my neighbors…</p>
<p>Cricket – Depending on the age of the car, if this is a long-term issue, you might investigate remote start with defroster on. My 2000 is one year too old to support it, but I would very much have liked to get it since the car has never spent the night in a garage. The car stays locked from what I understand.</p>
<p>I believe my car is from 2004 so that is an interesting idea. My father’s car has that option and it’s really great (I believe his car is from 2009).</p>
<p>Yes, scraping is a chore, but do more than just a small space. Something to consider- the cost/waste of fuel used when heating a car before driving. The engine needs to warm up some to produce the hot air for the defroster. Turn it on while you scrape to help. Another tip- clear snow from the top, hood, front and rear lights as well as all windows. Snow blowing off of your car while driving can obscure your view or other drivers’ view as it blows onto their windshield.</p>
<p>@wis75, I try to cover as much area with the scraper as possible (including passenger windows) but for some reason, it doesn’t seem to help much. I am starting to think I am in need of a new ice scraper…</p>
<p>Also, I am always sure to remove all snow from the top of the car, it is simply too dangerous not too. I once had a chunk of snow (mixed with ice!!) on someone’s roof fall right next to my car while I was driving so I am very careful about that. So far, we have had only had one major snowstorm in my area so far, thankfully.</p>
<p>I read that a mixture of vinegar and water sprayed on the windshield at night will prevent frost from forming overnight. I just read about this, so I have yet to try it.</p>
<p>Plan to have an extra few minutes to warm the car up before driving with the defrost going. You’ll want to scrape as well as warm the car. When it’s almost done, you can use your windshield washers to finish the job, if the windshield has warmed up enough so the washer fluid will not freeze.</p>
<p>Make sure your windshield washer fluid is not just pure water. Stop at an auto parts store or even a drug store or grocery store and get a gallon of windshield washer fluid rated to 0 degrees or below. This will help clear the last of the ice and frost from your windshield, but only after the defroster has mostly done its work.</p>
<p>How about the spray on ice melter stuff? I just bought a couple cans today - one for S and two for D - Prestone I believe. About $3 a can. That coupled with an ice scraper should help (actually the can has an ice scraper attached but they have a separate ice scraper as well. </p>
<p>Here’s a list of their products (though I haven’t actually tried this myself to be totally confident in it yet)
[Ice</a> Fighters | Car Care | Products | Prestone®](<a href=“http://www.prestone.com/products/car_care/ice_fighters/product_list]Ice”>http://www.prestone.com/products/car_care/ice_fighters/product_list)</p>
<p>Are we talking to a college student, male, 21yo+. ?</p>
<p>Don’t ever pour hot water on your windshield! It could crack it and if not, you will have a windshield covered in ice!</p>
<p>This is what life is like in a cold place, so you need to plan accordingly. Dress warm. Start the car with defrost on high. The comments about saving energy/pollution are simply ridiculous. It’s cold and you need to warm up the car and melt the frost before driving. Scrape with your NEW scraper. 
Also, I second the windshield washer fluid that’s rated for 0 or lower, depending on where you live. You will need to allow about 5 -10 extra minutes in the morning.</p>