Windshield Care Tips
TIPS ON SAFELY REMOVING ICE/SNOW FROM YOUR WINDSHIELD
The colder months can bring a number of extra hazards to your commute, so proper vehicle maintenance is a must. Caring for your windshield is the first step in making sure your car will be safe through the winter. Leaving frost on your windshield (or clearing only a small “peephole,” which can get you fined or ticketed) inhibits your vision as a driver, meaning that you’re less able to see other cars, pedestrians, and possible road hazards.
HOW TO REMOVE ICE FROM YOUR WINDSHIELD
The first logical step in clearing frost off of the glass in your car is to start it up and get the heater running. Nowadays, many cars have an auto-start feature on their key fob, so you don’t even have to leave your house to get it going. You can start up your car while you’re getting ready, and by the time you’re ready to leave your car is toasty warm and (hopefully) defrosted.
But in areas that suffer harsher winters, it is common to have ice build up on top of the glass, and this takes a little more than a few minutes with a defroster to fix. Letting ice continue to build on the glass or attempting to remove it improperly can cause cracks or other problems. Windshield repair is normally covered by most insurance plans, but no one really wants to wait around for a repairman, especially if you’ve got to be at work. And since driving around with a cracked windshield can earn you a ticket in most states, it’s best to be safe and exercise correct ice removal techniques.
The proper way to remove ice from your windshield is to use a tool called an ice scraper. The best ice scrapers you should try to find are extendable, so that they can be easily stored inside your trunk or back seat. It’s also a good idea to invest in one that features a flat plastic scraper at one end, and nylon bristles on the other. This allows you to break up thicker/ harder chunks of ice, and then sweep off everything cleanly without risking your windshield wipers.
To help clear off really difficult patches of ice, you can douse your windshield with a bucket of cool-to-lukewarm (not hot!) water. The water will help to soften the ice and make it easier to scrape off. Please note that it’s extremely important not to use warm or hot water, as the higher temperatures are likely to cause cracks in the glass.
WAYS TO PREVENT ICE BUILDUP
If you don’t feel like spending time every morning clearing ice off of your windshield, there are a few different tricks you can employ to prevent the glass from freezing over.
The easiest trick is to cover your windshield with rubber bath mats before going to bed at night. The mats protect your windshield, and any ice can be easily shaken off the next morning. You can also use an old blanket if you don’t have rubber mats handy; just make sure to tuck the ends in tightly to your doors so that the blanket lies flat across the glass.
A mixture of one part water and two parts rubbing alcohol (applied via a spray bottle) will help to melt ice much more quickly, and will incidentally help your windshield wipers be stay effective in snowy weather as well. The mixture may also keep ice from forming on your windshield if applied at night. Using a spray of three parts white vinegar to one part water in the evenings will have a similar effect.
If you follow these easy tips then you’re sure to have a safer, less costly winter, at least as far as driving is involved.
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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIX A WINDSHIELD?
Once your mobile glass installer comes out to your vehicle location, the actual labor time generally takes a few hours. If you are getting a repair, plan for about an hour. If the entire windshield is being replaced it will take a bit longer, usually about 2 hours. (Because your safety is our number one concern, we will not cut corners in the service of your vehicle.) Calling the most reputable local company is a good decision. Ocean Glass is the way to go! 888-339-1367