Removing Ice From Your Car

DOES A LAYER OF ICE AFFECT YOUR PAINT?

This past weekend, many of us woke up to find a layer or two of ice covering our cars. At Capitol Shine, we've talked about elements like rain, heat and snow and how some of them can have an effect on your car's paint, but what about ice?

For the most part, we haven't seen any damage from ice just sitting stationary on vehicles. However, what if you need to remove that ice so you can get to work?! If the door is frozen shut, how can you get inside to turn on the defroster? Of course, the best way to avoid any problems is by waiting for the outside temperature to rise to the point where a small layer of water gathers between your car and the ice. This will provide some lubrication that allows the ice to slide, not scrape, off of your vehicle. But if you cannot wait, we may have some alternative methods.

De-Icer

As this article states, "Alcohol-based products offer another tool to remove ice from automobile glass and doors. Spraying or pouring the alcohol on to the frozen areas causes the ice to melt. Once the ice has thawed, it can be pushed off of the car by hand..." It's important to note that when removing thawed ice, be careful to not let it scrape any paint - trying picking it up if possible instead of sliding it off. De-icer can be found at most automotive stores.

Avoid Using Hot Water

There are many contradictory articles online about using hot or lukewarm water to loosen or melt ice. Yes, it can sometimes work, but there is a high risk of the water being too hot, in which case the extreme temperature difference from the outside weather can shatter the glass in your car door. Ultimately, it's better to try to avoid this method altogether if possible.

Ice Scraper

If you decide to use an ice scraper, try to only use it in the crevice between your door and the body, or just on the door seal. Try to avoid hitting the paint directly, as the impact can actually chip or scratch your paint. A snow brush can also scratch the paint, so try to avoid using that when it comes to ice.

Capitol Shine's Ceramic Pro

You've probably heard us talking about our paint protection formulas Ceramic Pro and Opti-Coat Pro, but these can actually be applied to your windshield as well to help the thawing process. Watch the video below to see this in action! And be sure to read more about this amazing product on our website here, or schedule an estimate here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY2mRDg-FoY