I don’t know about you, but this morning I woke up with frost on my windshield. This is just a sign that winter is coming, maybe sooner than we wanted. Regardless, this means there’ll be many more mornings of frost, snow, and ice on our cars in the future, and if we want to drive we’ll need to get rid of that ice and snow somehow. Here are some tips on how to do that without damaging your car by scratching the windshield or paint!

If your doors are frozen shut, pour a little cold water on them. Hot water can cause damage to glass and paint when it’s cold enough outside for water to freeze, so cold water – which is already warmer than the ice – will help to defrost your doors so you can open them. Don’t use a lighter, hair dryer, or anything pointy to try and melt or chip away at the ice. Patience is a virtue!

When it comes to your windshield, use the defroster. Clear away as much snow and ice as you can with a soft scraper – NO METAL!! The defroster function will loosen up and melt what’s left enough for you to use your wipers and clear off your windshield so you can drive. Before the weather gets really bad, invest in a plastic scraper and plastic brush for your car if you don’t already have them. Things like keys, knives, and spatulas can scratch your windshield. Make sure you use the defroster for your rear windshield as well, because you need to see out the back of your car as well.

All in all, patience is a virtue in the winter. Wait for your car to defrost without resorting to harsh scraping or melting methods that can damage your vehicle and you’ll thank yourself for it!