Frost and full blown snow will be here before you know it. When it first starts getting cold, many people forget to go warm up the car and defrost or deice their windows. You don't want to be late for work because you jump in the car and can't see out your windshield. Here are some tips and tricks to defrosting your windows in a hurry.

Vinegar water

The acid in vinegar is great for melting ice quickly. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and spray it onto your icy windshield. The ice will begin to melt, and you can easily scrape it away with your windshield scraper. If you window is foggy or streaky afterward, spray some of the mixture directly onto your windshield, and wipe it off with a cloth or a paper towel.

Rubbing alcohol & dish soap

Another great, homemade solution for melting ice is rubbing alcohol and dish soap. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and add a drop of dish soap and a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol. The tiny bit of soap will be enough to help melt the ice, but it won't be so much that it makes your window soapy. The soap will also help prevent ice from re-forming on your windshield as well.

Saltwater solution

Another easy way to melt the ice off your window quickly is with a saltwater solution. Rock salt that is used for ice melt will work the fastest, but even table salt is enough to get the ice off of your windshield. Mix either in a spray bottle with warm water. You have to be careful with salt because of its corrosive properties. Try to avoid the paint on your car. It's best to wipe the area you spray with a damp cloth after to make sure there isn't salt sitting on your paint.

Windshield cover

Some people use windshield covers to reflect the sun in the summertime and keep their car cooler. You can use one in the winter to keep snow and ice off of your car. If you don't have a car cover, you can make one with a piece of cardboard. Cut it into the shape of your window, and stick the bottom of it under your windshield wipers to hold it in place. Pull it off your car and stick it in the trunk so you can use it wherever you go. You will only have some fog that you can get off quickly with the defrost on your car.

Use your hose

If you have nothing to get the ice off of your windshield and you're in a pinch, you can use your hose to get the ice off your windshield. Even though the water is cold, the running water will melt the snow and ice. Just be sure that you disconnect your hose as soon as your finish so you don't chance your outside faucet freezing and bursting your pipes. If it's so cold you're worried about the water refreezing onto your car, wipe your car down quickly with a towel after you finish.

Blow dryer

If you have a plug nearby or an extension cord, a blow dyer will melt the ice quickly. Simply aim the blow dryer at your window and watch the ice melt away. Put enough distance between the dryer and the ice so your window doesn't get too hot, too fast.   

If you're running late for work and your car is full of ice and snow, you can use one of these methods to melt the snow quickly. Just be careful that you don't use hot water or items other than a window scraper to scrape your windshield. It could result in breaking your window and needing a windshield replacement. Click here for more information on glass replacement if something does go amiss.