How to Unfreeze a Windshield Wiper
by Lindsey Fisher
Cold winter weather can cause a number of problems for your vehicle, including freezing your wipers to your windshield. Not only is this inconvenient, it is unsafe. If your wipers are frozen, they will not be able to properly remove water and snow from your view while driving.
Step 1
Turn your car on and turn your defroster on high. Make sure that your temperature dial is set to a warm setting to quicken the unfreezing process. By turning on your defrost system, you are sending warm air to the base of your windshield where your wipers are located. Once the windshield and wipers warm up slightly, they should easily release from the windshield when you pull up on them or turn your wipers on.
Step 2
Spray your windshield with a de-ice spray. Many companies, like Rain-X, sell a de-icing spray for your car's glass. This spray speeds up the defrosting process. If you spray a little bit along the blade of the wipers, they should thaw quickly and become free of your windshield.
Step 3
Pull up on your wipers gently. Sometimes windshield wipers are only slightly frozen to your windshield and you can release them by giving them a slight tug. Pull gently to prevent tearing of the blades and stop if a gentle tug is not going to be enough to get them released from your windshield.
Step 4
Pull the wiper off the windshield slightly and release it, allowing the blade to fall back onto the windshield if it is still stuck to the windshield. This will break off any chunks of ice that may be on your wipers. Sometimes you must do this a few times while on the road if ice and slush build up on your wipers while driving.
Things You'll Need
- Working defrost system
- De-ice spray
Warnings
- Do not pour water (of any temperature) on your windshield when it is frozen or if it is cold out. This can cause your windshield to shatter immediately.
Writer Bio
Lindsey Fisher began writing professionally in 2010. Fisher has been published in the online magazine “Domestic Driver.” She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and technical communications with a minor in sociology.
