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Is your windshield covered in snow? Here's how to quickly defrost your vehicle this winter — and what mistakes to avoid

With many parts of Canada facing swaths of snow, many people are braving the elements to get their vehicles ready for the road.

A woman uses a windshield scraper to clear her car from snow in the winter after a snowstorm.
With snowstorms hitting parts of Canada this winter, here's what every motorist should know about clearing their vehicle of snow and getting ready to safely hit the road. (Image via Getty Images)

It's the middle of winter, meaning it may seem as if there's no end in sight for blistering cold weather. Eastern Canada has been bracing for extreme winter weather this week, with parts of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces getting dumped with huge amounts of snow on Thursday.

Between school closures in the Greater Toronto Area and warnings to avoid non-essential travel across Quebec, numerous Canadians are forcibly left with their shovels and snow brushes on stand-by. If you do find the need to drive somewhere despite the freezing conditions, you might have your own trick to clearing snow from your vehicle. However, some of those methods might actually be mistakes that result in damage.

So, what is the quickest and safest way to clear your car this winter? Keep reading for all the tips and tricks for vehicular snow removal — plus all the gadgets you might need.

Giving yourself plenty of time is key when it comes to winter travel. In addition to giving yourself extra drive time in winter conditions, be sure to factor in the time it takes to remove ice and snow from your vehicle. Not only will this ensure that you don't feel rushed, but it will also help ensure all the ice and snow is removed from your windshield, rear windshield, mirrors and lights.

Assuming you're able to get into your vehicle, one of the best and easiest ways to de-ice your car is to turn on your engine, turn up the heat and let your defrosters do the work for your windshield as well as rear windshield. You may still have to remove snow from your car, but this can help speed up the process.

It may be tempting to have your kids or pets wait inside an idling car while you remove snow from the vehicle or dig the car out from the driveway. However, winter weather conditions and idling cars can be a recipe for disaster. Snow and ice can block tailpipes and cause carbon monoxide to build up in the car, and carbon monoxide poisoning can happen within minutes for young children.

Cleaning snow from a car. A beautiful woman is cleaning snow from a car with a brush. Transport concept, seasonality Winter glass cleaning.
Give yourself ample time to clean off your car before hitting the road. (Image via Getty Images)

Sometimes, winter weather can freeze locks and doors, making it difficult to get into your vehicle. If your car is covered in a thick layer of ice or you're pressed for time, mix 2/3 rubbing alcohol and 1/3 water in a spray bottle and apply liberally to your windshield, locks or car handles. The rubbing alcohol has a lower freezing point than water and will begin to melt the ice.

If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you can create your own saltwater mixture. The salt will work similarly to the alcohol and begin melting the ice. There are also commercial de-icers available for purchase that can do the trick.

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Avoid these common mistakes when clearing off your vehicle after a winter storm.

It may seem like a good idea to pour boiling water or hot water on your windshield to remove snow and ice, but it can be a costly mistake. The temperature change of the boiling water on the cold glass can cause your windshield to crack or shatter.

It may seem like a good idea to turn on your windshield wipers as soon as you start your vehicle to help remove ice and snow. However, you run the risk of damaging your wiper blades or the wiper blade motor. Wait until all the ice and snow have been removed from your windshield before you turn them on.

You might think putting your wiper blades up into the air will save you time in the long run when cleaning off your vehicle, but it's best to think again. While many people think this will prevent their wiper blades from freezing to their windshield, a winter storm can damage the rubber on the wiper blades and put strain on the blade itself.

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Strong winds could also cause the blades to fall back onto the window and crack the windshield. Instead, consider using a windshield cover to protect your vehicle from ice and snow and protect your wiper blades.

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