Glass, Glass, and More Glass

Your car is equipped with a number of safety features, but one of the most important is the windshield. The windshield is designed to protect you and your passengers from road debris and the elements. You may not realize it, but the way that you treat and care for the windshield may actually be damaging it, resulting in the premature need for repairs or replacement. Below are four different things that you may be doing that are ruining your auto glass without you even realizing it. Some of these may be a little "strange" to you, but nonetheless, they do the damage.

#1: Hitting a Frozen Windshield to Remove Ice

During the wintertime, your windshield will often have a sheet of ice on top of it in the morning. When car owners don't have ice scrapers, they often resort to other measures to quickly remove the ice from their windshields when they are in a hurry. Many people will use their fists to bang on the frozen windshield, while others will pick up a variety of objects like hammers to bang on the windshield. However, glass—whether frozen or not—and hitting is not a good combination, especially in cold weather when the glass is already fragile.

#2: Defrosting the Windshield with Hot Water

Some people have a bit more common sense and know that they shouldn't bang on their windshields. Instead, they choose to get hot water in order to melt the built-up ice on their auto glass. Unfortunately, this is not a solid choice either. There is an extreme difference in temperature between the hot water and the frigid glass, and because of this significant temperature difference, the windshield is very likely to shatter. When you have ice on your windshield, the best thing for you to do is to make sure you have the time to defrost the ice with the interior defrost fan or use a plastic tool to scrape the ice off.

#3: Cleaning the Windshield with Glass Cleaner

Many car owners want to ensure that their vehicles look spick and span most of the time, and this includes keeping the auto glass clean. However, if you are not careful in choosing the right cleaning products, you could damage the coating on the windshield. This coating is designed to protect the auto glass from the elements and prevent UV damage to the interior of the vehicle. Over time, using the wrong type of glass cleaner can result in the windshield becoming cloudy, leading to a replacement.

#4: Leaving Aerosol Cans in the Vehicle During the Summer

The inside of a vehicle during the summer can reach excruciating temperatures. While you know that you shouldn't leave your children and pets inside of the vehicle during the summer, there are certain products you shouldn't leave your car as well. For instance, have you ever given a second thought to leaving an aerosol can in the car when the temperatures are high out? For instance, a can of hairspray or cleaner could potentially explode inside of your car during the summer, causing projectiles that could go through your windshield and require you to replace it.

If you are in need of auto glass repair or replacement due to any of the aforementioned reasons or something else entirely, don't hesitate to reach out to an auto glass repair or replacement service in your area.