Easy Fixes for Common Car Window Issues

Problems with your car windows can be dangerous on the road. The below tips will help you keep your windows clean and improve visibility.

Remove the ice with rubbing alcohol

• If you don't relish scraping ice from your windshield in winter, fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol, spray the glass and wipe the frost away. The solution will also help to free your frozen wiper blades.
• To prevent icing in the first place, wipe your windshield with pure white vinegar the evening before or cover the glass with rubber mats.

Smooth the movement with silicone spray

Slow or wobbling windows don't necessarily mean a failing motor. It's likely that the rubber lining on the window's guide rails has lost its lubricant coating, making the windows stick.

• Wind down the window and then apply some silicone spray or grease (available from all auto stores) right into the exposed window channel.
• Don't use oil-based lubricant — it'll work at first, but soon become gummed up.

Vacuum away the debris

A small piece of grit can jam the mechanism of a window or door switch. Hold the tube of a vacuum cleaner, set to full power, hold it over the switch and gently rock the switch back and forth to dislodge the particle.

Get creative with household products

• Do a spot job anytime even if you're in a rush — even if you're on the road; clean your windshield and car windows quickly by rubbing them with baby wipes stored in your glove compartment.
• When it rains after a long dry spell, a dirty windsheld turns into one big mess. Get rid of streaks and blotches by pouring cola over the glass. Stretch a towel along the bottom of the windshield to protect hood paint. The bubbles in the cola will fizz away the grime. Be sure to rinse the sticky cola off thoroughly.