8 Do's and Don'ts for De-Icing Your Windshield

WACO, TX--Dec. 15, 2011: Waking up bright and early to remove ice from a windshield is a pain. Unfortunately, many impatient drivers discover creative ways to break the glass instead of removing the ice.

"There are some creative ideas for getting ice off windshields, but they can be hazardous," Wayne Robinson of Glass Doctor® of Amarillo, Texas, said. "There is a better way to remove ice from auto glass."

Here are the Glass Doctor eight do's and don'ts for de-icing your windshield:

DO: Pour cold water to gradually melt the ice on a "sealed," frozen door.

DON'T: Pour hot water on the vehicle's windshield and windows to melt the ice. The extreme temperature change can cause the glass to break.

DO: Start the vehicle and use the defroster setting to warm the glass. Wait at least five minutes.

DON'T: Try to "unseal" the door by using a hair dryer, cigarette lighter, ice pick, screwdriver, propane torch or portable heater.

DO: Use a plastic ice scraper and a soft plastic bristle brush or broom to clear the ice once it starts melting.

DON'T: Scrape ice off the windshield with a metal ice scraper, key, spatula, knife or crowbar.

DO: Make sure no ice or snow is obstructing the vehicle's tailpipe. If it is covered, remove the ice or snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

DON'T: Pour a mixture of vinegar and water on the windshield. Vinegar eats pits into the glass.

Waiting for ice to melt on its own isn't practical in the morning, so knowing how to properly defrost auto glass is important. By waking up a few minutes early, drivers can avoid accidents caused by de-icing windshields.

About Glass Doctor®:

From windows to windshields to storefronts, Glass Doctor can handle any glass need including custom glass, such as shower enclosures, entry door glass and mirrors. Established in 1962 with one shop in Seattle, Wash., today Glass Doctor offers glass repair and replacement services to the residential, automotive and commercial markets at more than 300 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Glass Doctor began franchising in 1977 and in 1998 joined The Dwyer Group, Inc., an international franchisor of service industry companies. At that time, the company's corporate headquarters relocated to Waco, Texas. Now there are more than 175 Glass Doctor franchise owners across the U.S. and Canada. For further information, visit Glass Doctor.