It’s 7:30am, and you’re getting ready to head to work. You’re all buttoned up in your winter gear, and you trudge through the snow to get to your car that has about six inches of snow on it. You get inside the car, turn the heaters and defrosters on and get the snow off your windshield only to discover that there’s a layer of ice still there. Just on the cusp of warming up, you have to get out of your comfy seat, grab your scraper, and clean the windshield, becoming cold once again. Once this is done, you finally head to work. But what if I told you that you didn’t have to scrape your windshield?
The secret is called De-Icer. My dad, other mechanics I know, and myself like to call this “orange juice”, as it’s an orange liquid that looks just like Sunny-D. De-Icer is a type of windshield washing fluid (the same stuff that you use to clean your windshield when it’s dirty) that contains certain chemicals that melt ice. When sprayed onto the windshield, the chemicals are immediately activated and work efficiently, breaking the ice down and eventually making it a mushy liquid that can be pushed off by your wipers. This is a given, but it obviously makes it so that you don’t have to get out of your car. And, if the ice is really thick on your windshield, give it a big ol’ shot of De-Icer, let it sit for a solid five minutes, and wipe those wipers. Guaranteed most of the ice will come off.
So, where can you get this handy-dandy liquid? The answer is anywhere. The cheapest place that has De-Icer is Walmart. It’s like four dollars a gallon. But, if you don’t like Walmart or don’t live near one, most other places (the local hardware store, some grocery stores, gas stations, etc.) should have it. The prices might be a bit more there, but the highest I’ve ever seen was nine dollars a gallon. A bit pricey, yes, but trust me when I say that you won’t regret it. Don’t worry if the label on the jug doesn’t say “De-Icer” on it. As long as the liquid is orange, you’re safe.
If you’re reading this article and want to switch to De-Icer immediately, but still have some of the normal windshield washer fluid (blue) in your car, don’t worry. Use all of the liquid that is inside the car up. This won’t damage the mechanism at all (unlike draining your car out of gas, oil, or other vital fluids) and you will be able to fill the container back up with De-Icer and use it immediately after. If you (or anyone you know) doesn’t know how to fill it up, that’s perfectly okay. Take the containers to your mechanic and kindly ask if they would fill it up for you. They most will say yes.
So, if you want an easier life this winter, remember the “orange juice.”