How the Experts Say to Defrost Your Windshield Fast During a Minnesota Winter

At one time or another during winter in Minnesota you're going to have to deal with a frosted-over windshield. It's the worst, it's not even snow that you can easily brush off and be good to go. It's the scraping and scraping and scraping...

And then sometimes after you're done scraping your windows are still foggy! It's quite annoying. I deal with this with my car all the time.

ALSO READ: Beautiful and Cozy Winter Cabins in Minnesota You Have to See

The WRONG Way to Defrost Your Car

There are all sorts of tips and tricks that people share online on how to defrost your windshield fast. One that I've seen before is to pour hot water on your windshield.

This is a TERRIBLE idea! Don't do it!

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If you pour hot water on a cold windshield it's very likely going to crack. If you're going to just use water, make sure it's only warm. I think the best thing, though, is to just avoid pouring only water on your cold windshield all together.

Recipe to Defrost and Deice Your Windshield

A different trick that I've never tried myself but I'm seeing online is to make a little concoction.

The website Glass Doctor gives us a recipe for how you can quickly defrost or de-ice your windshield. You mix "2/3 cup of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup of water", pour it into a spray bottle, and that's it.

When you need a little help, spray it on your windshield. Fun fact, you can leave it in your car no matter how cold it gets, because the mixture doesn't freeze!

But there are also tips and tricks from car experts on how to defrost your car without using extra stuff.

How to Quickly Defrost or Defog Your Car in Winter

GMC experts say that the best things to do to quickly defrost and defog your car are:

Turn on the defrost/defog. If you have an option to turn it on max, do that. And don't forget to turn on the defrost for your back window too if you have that option.

Make sure the recirculation button is OFF.

Turn your fan on to the highest setting.

Turn the heat all the way up.

And then, this is going to sound crazy but this is important if you're defogging, turn ON the AC. Yes, I know, but this actually helps pull out all of the condensation that has built up inside the car from the snow, cold, etc and it's what's causing the fog on the windshield.

Now, speaking of your car in the winter, there are also items that you should definitely never leave in your car when it's cold out.