When you’re in a rush, finding that you need to scrape the snow and ice off your windshield can be frustrating. Luckily, there’s one natural, affordable, and incredibly useful substance that can do your dirty work for you. Salt will melt ice on your windshield in no time, but it does take a little preparation ahead of time.
Will Salt Melt Ice on Your Windshield?
Salt has a lower freezing point than water, which is why salt is put on icy roads and sidewalks. Salt dissolves quickly when it encounters water. Put salt on ice, and it immediately creates a thin layer of liquid water. As the water spreads across the surface, it contacts more ice, which creates more water. This chain reaction works to makes a saltwater de-icing solution that quickly and effectively melts ice on your windshield.
As you might have guessed, sprinkling table salt on your frozen windshield isn’t the fastest way to go. Put physics to work by creating a saltwater solution:
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Fill a spray bottle with water.
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Add a quarter cup of sidewalk de-icer salt. You can use normal table salt, but you’ll need to add a full cup. Adjust the amount of salt in the solution to meet your needs.
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Spray the solution evenly across the windshield and avoid spraying any metal components or vents.
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Consider keeping your spray bottle inside instead of in your car. Even saltwater will freeze at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep it warm when temperatures get below freezing.
Related Topic: How to De-Ice Your Windshield Fast
Will Salt Damage My Car?
The small amount of salt in your de-icing spray won’t damage your windshield or cause your car to rust. Salt damage to cars is caused by the road salt used in many parts of the country.
The 25 states that use road salt are collectively known as the “Salt Belt,” and are clustered in the Northeast and Midwest.
Too much salt can have adverse effects on your car, but it can also negatively impact groundwater, wildlife, and plant life—and contaminate drinking water as well.
Less Time Scraping Windshields, More Time to Get Where You Want to Be
Let science do the work by using a saltwater de-icing solution this winter to get on the road in less time. Clearing your windshield is a part of being a safe driver, and so is fixing windshield scratches and cracks immediately.
When you need emergency auto glass repair, trust the professionals at Glass Doctor to make the fix and get you back on the move. Call (833) 974-0209 or request an estimate today!