I have heard that using an ice scraper can do damage to your windshield, if you don’t keep the scraper blade flat against the glass, and you should never use your scraper on a mirror. Is this so? Most ice scrapers are made of plastic, so why would this hurt the glass? Come to think of it, I have these lines on the glass, that don’t wipe off. Could it be from the scraper?
Actually the sharp corner of an ice scraper almost always quickly breaks up thick ice and gets you on your way. But too often as the windshield defrosts you’ll notice lines on the glass that look like crayon marks. “Must be from the scraper, I’ll wipe them off later.” But the marks don’t wipe off. You try everything from window cleaner to glass polish only to discover the marks are actually scratches in the glass from using the scraper’s edge.
Actually the sharp corner of an ice scraper almost always quickly breaks up thick ice and gets you on your way. But too often as the windshield defrosts you’ll notice lines on the glass that look like crayon marks. “Must be from the scraper, I’ll wipe them off later.” But the marks don’t wipe off. You try everything from window cleaner to glass polish only to discover the marks are actually scratches in the glass from using the scraper’s edge.
As many drivers have discovered, plastic can damage glass and getting rid of the distracting scratches requires the services of a glass shop. The least expensive fix is buffing the windshield but buffing doesn’t always work making a new windshield your only option. Either way you’ll spend considerable dollars just from using an ice scraper the wrong way. Be doubly cautious about mirrors, they’re also expensive and even easier to damage than windshields.
Most icing problems can be avoided with spray de-icer and windshield covers. Windshield covers are a cloth-like sheet to cover the windshield, which prevents snow and ice from sticking to the glass. Windshield covers wrap around the front pillars and are held in place by the doors. In the morning open the doors and remove the cover along with the snow and ice.
Opening the doors may be a problem unless you spray the rubber door seal with silicone. Silicone is amazingly slippery and lubricates the rubber, which keeps ice from freezing the rubber to the car’s body. But, none of this works unless you can unlock the door so lubricate the door locks with graphite lock lube, before that icy day.
Another problem to watch out for, is clearing ice from the side windows. Dumping hot water over the doors and windows is extremely popular but watch out! On an older car okay, but on modern cars, NO!
Today’s average car door is filled with electronic parts that could be damaged if soaked with hot water on an icy-cold day. Doors now have electronic interior-light switches, one-touch window relays, automatic door lock controllers, and more. Dousing your door full of sophisticated electronics with hot water, might get your going now but it could lead to some expensive repairs later, when you have forgotten about what you did that day the car was iced over!
