by Laurel Miller

You’re bundled up, there’s a bite in the air, and you can’t wait until you’re flying down the mountain. As many of you head to the mountains for ski and snowboarding season, remember that with snow, comes ice. Returning from the slopes to a windshield covered in ice can be frustrating and, unfortunately, many impatient skiers discover creative ways to break the glass instead of removing the ice. Here are eight Do’s and Dont’s for de-icing your vehicle’s windshield, windows and doors this ski and snowboarding season:

ü  DO: Start the vehicle and use the defroster setting to warm the glass. Wait at least five minutes.

ü  DO: Use a plastic ice scraper and a soft plastic bristle brush or broom to clear the ice once it starts melting.

ü  DO: Pour cold water to gradually melt the ice on a “sealed,” frozen door.

ü  DO: Make sure no ice or snow is obstructing the vehicle’s tailpipe. If it is covered, remove the ice or snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

ü  DON’T: Scrape the ice off the windshield with a metal ice scraper, key, spatula, utility knife or crowbar.

ü  DON’T: Pour hot water on the vehicle's windshield and windows to melt the ice. The extreme temperature change can cause the glass to break.

ü  DON’T: Try to “unseal” the door by using a hair dryer, cigarette lighter, ice pick, screwdriver, propane torch or portable heater.

ü  DON’T: Pour a mixture of vinegar and water on the windshield. Vinegar eats pits into the windshield glass.

Remember, a chipped windshield is more likely to turn into a crack when exposed to extreme heat and cold. Before you pack up the car, get your windshield chip repaired to prevent any future cracks. If your windshield is already cracked, a replacement may be necessary for your family’s safety. A cracked windshield can impair the driver’s vision and put passengers at risk.

Most automotive safety experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today’s vehicles, behind seatbelts and airbags. A windshield provides structural integrity which is compromised when cracked. Call Glass Doctor^® to repair a chip or replace your windshield and we’ll help keep your family safe on your ski trip.

Glass Doctor of Southwest Riverside County is located at 26015 Jefferson Ave., Suite C in Murrieta. Please call (951) 894-5710 or visit www.GlassRepairMurrieta.com