I thought I would follow up my Snowmageddon post with a quick tip about how you can keep your windshield and windows clear of ice in your car.
This probably doesn't have much to do with home maintenance, but if it helps other, that's the point.
Besides, if it saves you time, that is time you can devote to other things like home maintenance.
Some of us are fortunate to have a garage, and even if you do, many times your car is out in the elements.
If you aren't fortunate enough to have a garage, the last thing you feel like doing in the morning is spending time chipping away at the ice that has collected on your vehicle overnight.
Sometimes this unplanned surprise can make you late for work in the morning.
Speaking of work, how many times have you come out from work to see your car encased in a virtual ice cube?
You spend (what seems like) hours, chipping away at the ice trying to get enough of it whittled away to safely drive home.
In the meantime, the wind is gusting, and you're beginning to get numb from frost bite!
What if I could share with you a tip that could possibly spare you from all this torture during the next Iowa winter storm.
The tip is alcohol.
No, not the kind you may drink when you get home after a white-knuckle commute, but the rubbing alcohol variety. 😊😊
Keep a spray bottle in your vehicle of 1/3 water and 2/3 rubbing alcohol. Keep this in your vehicle so you can use it on the go.
Spray this on your windshield, and you will see the ice dissolve - almost like magic.
Why does this work so well, you may wonder, and why doesn't it freeze?
Rubbing alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water.
128 degrees Fahrenheit below 0, so it has a much lower freezing point than water.
If we get to the temperature of -128, none of us need to be going anywhere, so in most cases this will work.
It might not hurt to keep the bottle wrapped up in a towel or blanket in your vehicle, just to provide a little extra insulation.
When you spray it, it speeds up the melting process and prevents the surface from freezing up once it has been sprayed.
So, if you are anticipating an ice storm, it might be helpful to be proactive and spray this on your windshield and windows before the event to add a layer of protection.
So, in the morning when you go into work, hit your windows with a few squirts from the spray bottle.
Using this simple tip will save you time and energy, but most important, it will help you to safely navigate with a clear view of the road around you.
Another tip to help prevent ice from collecting INSIDE your car is kitty litter.
You read that right, kitty litter.
Take a sock and fill it with kitty litter.
Be sure to tie it securely and leave this on your dash.
The kitty litter will absorb the extra moisture inside your vehicle and help prevent ice and frost from collecting inside your windshield.
You will want to be sure to change this a few times during the winter, so it continues to keep absorbing the extra moisture.
There you have it!
A quick and easy way to help you chip away at the annoying ice that becomes part of our vehicles during the icy Iowa winters.
Rubbing alcohol and kitty litter.
Who knew?
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