SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV) — If you live in New York City, there's probably one thing you dread the most this winter… de-icing your car.
A frozen car after snow or ice can be a problem in the morning, especially if you don't expect it. Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks that can save you time and effort when washing cars this holiday season.
If you're on a tight budget, there are a few handy household items that will help you de-ice your car faster. However, if you want to splurge on car deicing equipment, here are some tools to help you deice your car easier and faster.
Warm up the car 10 minutes before departure
This hack is simple, but many people forget that only warming up the car will work for it
Ice and snow move more easily.
Warming up the car before snow removal will not only help clear the car faster, but it will also help melt the ice and clean the inside of the windshield.
Park your car in the morning
If you're going out after sunrise, it's best to park your car facing the sun. It is best for those who want to spend a few minutes in bed.
Turning the car towards the sun will help you get up earlier and wash less than those who get up early in the morning. The sun will naturally help melt the snow and ice on your car easily.
Pour vinegar into the bottle the night before
If you don't have antifreeze, this is a great home hack because it does the same thing for less.
Vinegar can be used as an anti-icing agent because it has a lower freezing point than water, meaning that ice will not form as easily as water can settle on the vinegar and freeze.
Before you go to bed at night, get in your car and spray your windshield with a mixture of vinegar and water and wake up to a windshield with less ice!
Rub the onion on the windshield
Like sprinkling vinegar, using onions will help prevent ice from forming on your glass during the colder months.
Using onions or potatoes on the windshield the night before winter snow or ice can also help clear snow or ice from the windshield.
Just chop an onion in half, scrub all the windows and windshields, and then wake up in the morning with a stinky, clean car.
Buy a strong, expandable car brush
Using a car brush with an ice scraper and brush will make cleaning your car much easier than trying to clean your car of snow.
Don't go shopping for a snow scraper and brush, make sure it has good reviews and won't break like you need it all winter!
Amazon has a good selection and includes a brush, scraper and retractable case with great reviews.
Order here on Amazon
Buy a defrost washer
In the winter, it's best to replace it with regular old washing-up liquid
It has a freezer!
This Rain-X windshield fluid removes ice and snow and helps eliminate road dew.
Driving on the highway when there is snow on the ground can be frustrating because other drivers may not be able to clear the roof of their cars and the snow may be thrown at you.
Fortunately, you don't have to worry about this washer fluid, as it helps remove snow and dirt quickly.
Order here on Amazon
Buy windshield deicing spray
If you need something to melt ice and snow off your windshield quickly and easily, this is the product for you.
Glass de-icer spray helps you remove small snow and ice not only from the windshield, but also from doors, handles, wipers, locks, etc.
This one from Amazon has great reviews and is pretty cheap.
Order here on Amazon
Buy a windshield cover
This product will not only save you a lot of effort, but also time, because you don't have to do anything
Clean, scratched or clean.
Windshield cover is the best invention for your car and mirrors in winter. It completely covers your windshield from ice and snow, as well as the all-important mirror.
All you have to do in the morning is remove the windshield and voila, a flawless glass is ready.
It has great reviews and a good price from Amazon.
Order here on Amazon
Buy a microfiber car window cleaner
Sometimes winter cleaning requires more than just the exterior of the car.
This tool is ideal for cleaning the inside of windshields, as they can get dirty in the winter and build up condensation over time as the car warms up.
This product easily cleans the inside of the windshield in less than a minute and is very gentle on your car at the same time.
It has great reviews from Amazon and is on sale right now!
Order here on Amazon
Buy a panel car heater
Finally, if you have trouble heating up your car and melting your windshield from the inside, this is the product for you.
This car heater helps speed up the defrosting time of the windshield from the inside and warms up your car faster.
You can use it not only in winter, but also on foggy days, when the windshield fogs up quickly. This helps prevent this so you can drive safely in the winter.
It has great reviews from Amazon and is on sale right now!
Order here on Amazon
Copyright 2022 Nextstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, transmitted, copied or distributed.
Visit FOX8 WGHP for the latest news, weather, sports and video streaming.