How To Make Ice Removal Spray for Your Windshield

Have you ever trudged out to your car in frigid weather, only to find a hopelessly iced-over windshield? The only thing worse may be the miserable time spent scraping off that ice. But you can speed up the process with an ice melting spray.

I collected two easy-to-mix ice melting spray recipes from a pair of pros. Then I put the sprays to the test to see how effective they really are.

The first recipe comes from Al Lijee, a 10-year veteran of the auto glass industry and founder of myWindshield. He brings firsthand experience creating and using a homemade ice removal mixture. “When applied,” he says, “it quickly breaks down the ice, making it easy to remove from windshields and car doors without damaging the glass or paint.”

The second recipe comes from environmental sustainability expert Gavon Barkdull. His blend is harmless to pets or children and just as easy to make.

About the Experts

• Al Lijee founded myWindshield in 2014 with a vision to transform the U.S. auto glass industry. MyWindshield has grown into a trusted network of more than 300 top-tier auto glass shops and mobile glaziers nationwide.
• Gavon Barkdull is the co-founder and CEO of Zestain, a resource hub for companies and products committed to sustainability and zero-waste practices. Zestain strives to create a lasting impact that goes beyond business, inspiring a global community toward a greener future.

How Does Ice Melting Spray Work?

In simple terms, it’s a mixture of water and some substance with a lower freezing point than water. When applied to snow or ice, the spray thaws the frozen surface for easy removal.

“Applying the solution is straightforward — simply spray it onto the icy surface and wait a few moments before wiping or scraping the ice away,” Barkdull says.

But if the temperature falls below the new freezing point of the ice melt, the spray may still melt the ice but then rapidly refreeze. That’s why different ice melts are recommended for different temperatures.

Though it wasn’t freezing yet where I live, I tested both recipes on iced-over glass. For comparison’s sake, I also tested a simple spray of warm water. As expected, warm water melted the ice but began refreezing before I had time to wipe the glass clean.

How To Make a Low-Temperature DIY Ice Removal Spray

Here’s the recipe suggested by Lijee:

Ingredients

• Tap water;
• Isopropyl alcohol (70% is the most affordable and easiest to get, but higher percentage products are fine);
• Spray bottle.

Instructions

• Mix one part water to two parts isopropyl alcohol.
• Store in a spray bottle.

“Mixing and using this solution is straightforward and requires no special tools,” says Lijee. “Unlike some commercial deicers, it’s gentle on car surfaces and doesn’t contain harsh chemicals.”

Isopropyl alcohol is basically the same as rubbing alcohol but without dyes or scents. Those probably wouldn’t impact the spray, but sticking with plain isopropyl alcohol is safer.

Seventy percent isopropyl alcohol has a freezing point of about minus 80 degrees. Diluting it raises that temperature, but Lijee says that he’s found the 1:2 ratio to be effective as low as minus-20 degrees.

In my tests this recipe worked great, clearing ice from the test glass and leaving no new ice in its place.

How to Make an Environmentally Friendly Ice Removal Spray

Barkdull’s recipe replaces the isopropyl alcohol with common household vinegar. As Barkdull points out, vinegar is biodegradable and non-toxic, making this an extremely safe and eco-conscious mixture.

Ingredients

• Water;
• White cleaning vinegar;
• Spray bottle.

Instructions

• Mix one part water to two parts vinegar.
• Store in a spray bottle.

Barkdull reports this recipe is most effective in temperatures just below 32 degrees, which lines up with the tests I ran. I found it removed the ice from the test glass and didn’t immediately re-freeze.

In frigid winter weather, you’ll need to quickly clean off the melted ice. And in temperatures significantly below freezing, it might not melt the ice at all.

I opted for a white cleaning vinegar for this recipe. Apple vinegar had enough debris in the mix that I worried it would eventually clog the spray bottle.

How To Store Homemade Ice Removal Spray

Store the isopropyl alcohol mixture in your car. The alcohol makes it unlikely to freeze, and it’s great to have handy when you need it.

If you use the vinegar mixture, store it indoors. The freezing point of the mixture is close enough to 32 degrees that you’ll risk the spray bottle freezing overnight if you leave it in the car.

No matter what mixture you choose, if the bottle has a good seal, the deicer should have a long shelf life.

Other DIY Ice Removal Tricks

Here are some other tricks to make de-icing as easy as possible.

• Salt water mixtures: Salt isn’t such a great item to smear over your car, and it isn’t as ice-resistant as alcohol. But it can work in a pinch in temperatures down to minus-5 degrees.
• Pickle juice: Yep, pickle juice! The salty brine is basically a pre-mixed salt water deicer.
• Park with the windshield facing east: Sure, this only works if it’s a sunny day and you’re driving after sunrise (sorry, early risers). But parking this way lets the sun do some of the de-icing for you.