Can You Put Salt on Your Windshield? (2024)

FAQs

Is it safe to put salt on a windshield? ›

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. Spray the solution evenly across the windshield and avoid spraying any metal components or vents. Consider keeping your spray bottle inside instead of in your car.

Vinegar Spray

Each night, spray your windshield with a solution of vinegar. Mix three parts vinegar and one part water into a spray bottle. Take the mixture outside and spray it liberally on your windshield, side windows, and rear window. Then wipe down each window with an old rag or squeegee.

The last way to safely de-ice your windshield is to mix one tablespoon salt with two cups of water. Apply the mixture to your windshield and the salt will melt the ice. To speed this process up, you can use a plastic ice scraper to remove the ice as it begins to thaw.

Salt crystals, when left to build up, can also cause your entire window to deteriorate over time. If left untreated, the salt can weaken window glass, as well as the frame. The glass and frames won't exactly crumble away into nothing, but they might corrode enough to let water leak through the windows.

Rain may wash away some of the salt, but the residue it leaves behind is just as damaging.

We don't recommend using WD-40 on your windows or windshields but you can apply WD-40 Multi-Use to your number plate to not only provide a protective layer to stop it from rusting but to also prevent ice from sticking to it.

Should temperatures fall even below the freezing point of our economical de-icers and you don't have a car windscreen frost cover at hand, there's no need to worry. You can also use a towel, a piece of carpet, cardboard or even a shower curtain to protect your windshield from freezing over.

Use a deicer spray

Create your own rubbing alcohol deicer by mixing together two-thirds rubbing alcohol and one-third water. After doing so, you can place it in a spray bottle, shake it up and apply it generously to your windshield before the freezing temperatures arrive.

Mix 2 cups of isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup of warm water, and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. This solution swiftly melts ice and prevents refreezing.

Most hand sanitisers will contain small amounts of alcohol, which you can use to de-ice your windscreen in a pinch and also clear door locks which have become frozen over. If the gel is too thick, you can dilute it with water to stop it smudging up your windows.

Can I use Windex on my windshield? ›

Yes, you can use Windex on car windows and to clean the inside of your windshield. While some will advise you to skip the Windex with tinted windows, there's no evidence that Windex with ammonia causes problems. If your windows have been tinted by a third party, you may want to play it safe and skip it.

Deep clean with 0000 grit steel wool, glass polish, or a commercial glass stripper. Apply a fresh coat of rain-repellent to keep your windshield clear and protected.

Apply Anti-Fog

Taking a small, additional step can prevent future haze. Anti-Fog solutions minimize surface tension between the glass and water, creating a hydrophilic surface that repels water from your glass. Rather than adhering, the water condenses into droplets that off your window.

Start your car and activate the defroster if your car has one. As your vehicle idles, crank up the heat to help melt ice on the windshield. If you have a heated windshield and side mirrors, turn them on. Allow enough time for your car to warm up, making it easier and quicker to safely get rid of ice from the vehicle.

For starters, it's highly corrosive. When left unchecked on your car's surface, it can erode the protective layers of the paint, leaving it susceptible to chipping, fading, peeling, and rusting. Beyond the exterior, salt can cause undercarriage car damage, eroding vital auto parts like brake lines and exhaust systems.