Louisville weather: How to get ice off your windshield and door locks quickly and safely

Editor's note: This story, originally published in 2022, is being brought back as part of our winter storm coverage.

With the winter season upon us, Kentucky residents should prepare for the storms that are likely to roll in. Often, as cold temperatures threaten residents with ice, rain and snow, experts generally say it's best to stay home if you can.

But if you must go out, here are some tips to stay safe.

Your car in the ice: What to do if you park outside

Before the ice storm hits, be sure you have removed your ice scraper and deicer from inside your car. If your locks ice over, these two essential items won't do you any good if they are inside your frozen car.

How to prevent ice from forming on your windshield this winter

If you know ice is on the way, go out to your car and cover your windshield. Use a tarp, large towel or old sheet to keep ice from accumulating. AAA suggests holding the cover in place using the wiper blades, weights, magnets or some other method so it will not blow off.

In a pinch, you could also use your rubber floor mats to keep ice from forming on the windshield. But AAA warns that dirty covers may damage your vehicle's paint, so covers should only be used when little to no snowfall is expected.

"To aid in ice prevention and ease removal," AAA says, "some [people] soak cloth windshield covers in a solution of one tablespoon salt to one quart water."

Some people also make a homemade windshield pretreatment of three parts white vinegar to one part water. Apply the mix with a spray bottle the evening before and then wipe it off.

AAA says leaving the liquid on the glass doesn't help because its freezing point is just barely lower than that of water, and some glass professionals caution that extended exposure to liquid vinegar may cause micropitting of the windshield glass.

Crazy as it may sound, some recommend rubbing an onion or potato on the windscreen. The sugar from the onion or potato creates a barrier over the window and helps to break down the molecules, which favor the melting process, so you'll come out in the morning and there won't be any ice or snow on there.

TIP: If it's raining the night before temperatures start to freeze, it's likely your pretreatment solutions will wash away before doing their job.

To prevent your car's door handle from freezing, cover the handle with duct tape to protect the keyhole. Remember, tape won't stick to a wet surface so dry off the area first and don't press down too hard. You don't want to ruin your paint.

WD-40 spray is also effective at keeping your car door lock lubricated and frost-free. Simply spray a little into the lock and it should prevent ice and frost buildup for several days. Don't forget about the lock of your trunk.

If you don't have time to run out for WD-40, here's a homemade lubricant that will do the same job: Fill an 8-ounce spray bottle with one part water to three parts olive or sunflower oil. Shake it to mix, and spray away.

Defrost your windshield first, scrape second

If you find your vehicle is covered in ice, the AAA Motor Club has some tips on how to safely remove it without hurting yourself or your vehicle.

Melt the ice from the inside out. That means to begin the ice removal process, you should start your vehicle and allow the defroster to begin to work. Turn the heat up as high as it will go to melt the ice quicker.

"If your car has an automatic climate control system, simply set it to defrost," AAA said in a statement. "If your car is one of the few with an optional electrically-heated windshield, turn it on to rapidly clear ice from the glass."

TIP: While idling your car to defrost the windshield, make sure the tailpipe is clear. Any blockage from ice or snow could result in dangerous carbon monoxide exposure for anyone sitting inside the car.

Before you scrape the windshield, try these household concoctions to weaken ice:

Mix one part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and two parts water and apply it to the ice with a spray bottle. Be sure to store the solution indoors and not in your car to make it more effective.

"The isopropyl alcohol sold in stores ranges from 50 to 90% purity. Higher purity provides a lower freezing point and better deicing capability," according to AAA. "A few drops of dish soap added to the mixture will act as a surfactant to help coat the ice more evenly."

There are also commercial glass deicer sprays that can be purchased in stores.

"These products generally contain methanol, which is the best form of alcohol for deicing. However, like pretreatment sprays, they tend to cost up to $15 per quart and may contain pet-hazardous ethylene glycol," AAA says.

Always use a plastic scraper, windshield wipers, a rubber squeegee, or a soft bristle brush to remove ice. Never use metal scrapers, which can scratch glass and damage wiper blades.

Do not put hot water on your car to remove ice

It may seem like a good idea, but dumping hot water on ice can crack glass by causing thermal shock. The same goes for room-temperature water. Don't do it.

"For the same reason, never try to melt the ice with any type of torch," AAA says.

You may like: 10 budget-friendly things to winter-proof your vehicle during cold weather

Experts also advise against trying to crack ice with a hammer or some other type of blunt object before scraping. Frozen windshields break much easier.

How to unlock a frozen car door lock

If you find your locks are frozen and you don't have any commercial de-icer, or you left it inside your frozen vehicle, there are three tricks you can try.

Hand sanitizer can help you get into your car when the locks are frozen. Thanks to the high alcohol content in most hand sanitizers, it can thaw ice. Squirt a little bit of the gel on your key, make sure it covers both sides well, and it should unlock your stuck door lock after a few turns.

You can also try to heat your key with a lighter. If the lock is completely frozen, you may have to heat your key more than once. Insert the heated key into the lock and gently turn it left and right. This method may take several tries but eventually, it should do the trick.

If you don't have a lighter or hand sanitizer, you may need to rely on the heat of your breath to thaw out your lock. Simply cup your hands around the lock and blow into it for a few minutes. It may be necessary to do this more than once, but your lock should thaw after a while.

Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville. 

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to unfreeze car locks and clean the windshield in an ice storm