How to rid your car of ice

It's no secret that driving on ice is not fun. This can make driving difficult and even more difficult to stop. But asphalt is not the only place where ice gets in the way of cars. Snow and ice on your vehicle can…

It's no secret that driving on ice is not fun. This can make driving difficult and even more difficult to stop. But asphalt is not the only place where ice gets in the way of cars. Snow and ice on your vehicle can be a complete pain; this can make it difficult to get into the car and make it impossible to see through the windshield.

In adverse weather conditions, it is especially important to take all possible precautions. Never drive if you have poor or no visibility through the front windshield or windows. Luckily, with a little patience, you can remove almost all the ice from your car and make it safe to drive again.

Part 1 of 2: Start the heater and defroster

Step 1: Get rid of the ice around the doors. First of all, you must be able to get inside your vehicle. If ice coats your doorknobs and door locks, this task can be difficult.

Start by wiping off soft snow or sleet that has accumulated on the driver's door until you get to the handle and ice.

Then pour some warm water on the doorknobs until the ice starts to melt, or run a hair dryer over the handle.

Repeat this process until the ice has melted enough that you can easily open the car door (never try to force the key in or force the door open).

• Functions: Ice spray can be used instead of warm water.

Step 2: Turn on the machine and wait. Get in the car and turn on the engine; however, turn off the heater and defrosters at this time - you want the engine to warm up to temperature before you start asking it to heat up other things.

Let the car sit for about five minutes before moving on.

Step 3: Turn on the heater and defroster. After your engine has been idling for a while, you can turn on the heater and de-icer.

Together, these climate controls will begin to heat the windows and windshield from the inside, which will begin to thaw the base layer of ice.

You want the heater and de-icer to run for at least 10 minutes (preferably 15) before attempting to manually de-ice so you can get back inside and warm up while you wait for the car.

• A warning: Do not leave a running machine unattended unless you are in a safe and secure area or if you do not have a second set of keys so that you can lock the doors while the engine is running.

Part 2 of 2: Removing ice from windows and windshield

Step 1: Use an ice scraper to remove ice from your windshield.. After about 15 minutes, the vehicle's heater and de-icer should begin to melt the ice on the windshield.

At this point, return to the cold weather with an ice scraper and start working on the windshield. It may take a little effort and energy, but eventually you will break the ice.

After you have finished de-icing the front windshield, repeat the process on the rear windshield.

• Functions: If the ice seems to be still, return to the room for another 10-15 minutes and let the heater and de-icer continue to work.

Step 2: Remove ice from windows. Lower each window an inch or two and then raise it up. Repeat this process several times.

This will help soften the ice on the windows, after which you can quickly get rid of it with an ice scraper.

• A warning: If you notice any resistance when lowering the windows, stop immediately. If the windows freeze in place, attempting to force them to move could result in serious damage.

Step 3: Carry out a final inspection of the vehicle from the outside.. Before you get in your car and start driving, take one last look at the outside of the car to make sure everything is in good condition.

Check the windshields and windows again to make sure all the ice has been removed, then check all the headlights to make sure they are not covered in too much ice or snow. Finally, check the car's roof and shake off large chunks of snow or ice.

• Functions: After the bad weather passes, it would be nice to invite a mobile mechanic, for example, from AvtoTachki, to inspect your car and make sure that the ice has not damaged it.

Once you've removed all the ice from your car, you're ready to get in and drive. All that ice on the car means there's a lot of ice on the road, so be extra careful while driving.