It’s that time of year again. Freezing cold temperatures are already sneaking up on us. Many of us have automatic starters for our cars to help preheat vehicles, we can even start our cars with our watches and phones. But, that luxury comes with a price. Unfortunately, our planet is the one that has to suffer the consequences of idling engines.
“An idling vehicle releases harmful chemicals, gases, and pollution into the air, contributing to ozone, regional haze, and global climate changes,” said Anna Lessire, UASAF’s 86th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental chief. “Every gallon of gas burned produces more than 20 pounds of greenhouse gases.”
Idling also wastes gas; letting a car idle for two minutes is equivalent to driving a mile. With gas prices soaring that can really add up!
The best way to heat your car is to drive the car (big facts over here). But what can we do when our windows and car doors are covered in frost and ice? Standing in the cold scrapping the ice off is uncomfortable and time-consuming, especially when we have places to be.
One solution is to purchase windshield covers which can be purchased for around $30 and will not take up much space. The only problem is that you will have to be diligent and remember to cover your car at night. Another option is to purchase deicing sprays. These sprays can be pricey especially if you go through them quickly, they also have mixed reviews which leaves us feeling skeptical. These sprays are also full of chemicals that are not good for us or our environment. Our favorite option is to make our own solution using household products that you probably already have. These homemade solutions are cheap, reliable, and above all will not harm our cars or the environment.
Listed below are our top 3 recipes for DIY deicing solution sprays:
- Vinegar Spray: Mix three parts vinegar and one-part water into a spray bottle.
- Rubbing Alcohol Spray: Mix two parts rubbing alcohol and one-part water into a spray bottle.
- Salt Water Spray: If you don’t have vinegar or rubbing alcohol, hopefully, you have some good old fashion table salt at home. Simply mix one tablespoon of salt for every two cups of water.
Each night, spray your windshield, side windows, and rear window generously with your solution of choice to help prevent morning frost. If you forget to do this the night before, no worries, it works great directly on ice too (but it might take a bit longer). REMEMBER never to use scalding hot water as your windshield is sensitive to quick changes in temperature. Hot water combined with excessive pressure on the glass from scraping could crack your windshield.
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