You can de-ice your car windshield in seconds with this one kitchen item — here's how

1. De-ice with a ziplock bag

Fill a ziplock sandwich bag about halfway with warm tap water — not boiling, just comfortably warm from your faucet. Make sure the bag is securely sealed so it doesn't leak.

Take the bag outside to your car and gently slide it across your frozen windshield in smooth motions. The warmth from the water transfers through the bag and melts the ice on contact. You'll see the ice disappear almost immediately as you move the bag across the glass.

The method works because the bag creates a barrier between the warm water and cold glass, preventing thermal shock while still transferring enough heat to melt ice effectively.

As a bonus, the warm bag also functions as a hand warmer on freezing mornings, keeping your hands comfortable while you work.

2. Wipe away to prevent refreezing

After using the warm water bag to melt the ice, wipe away the remaining water from your windshield with a cloth or towel. This step is important because any water left on the glass can refreeze quickly in cold temperatures, creating a new layer of ice.

Once you've wiped the windshield dry, you're ready to drive safely with clear visibility. The entire process — from filling the bag to having a completely clear windshield — takes less than 2 minutes, making it significantly faster than scraping and much safer than using boiling water.

3. Make a DIY de-icer for prevention

You can also prevent ice from forming on your windshield in the first place by making a homemade de-icer spray. Mix equal parts water and rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) in a spray bottle — typically half a cup of each works well.

Spray this mixture on your windshield the night before temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. The alcohol lowers the freezing point of water, preventing ice from bonding to the glass. In the morning, any frost that forms will wipe away easily without scraping.

You can also use this spray to melt existing ice. Just spray it on and wait a few minutes for the ice to dissolve. Keep the spray bottle in your car so it's always available when you need it.

Keep in mind that alcohol evaporates over time, so this works best when applied closer to when temperatures drop rather than many hours in advance. For overnight protection, applying right before bed gives better results than early evening application.