Frees frozen doors, locks, and wipers, and softens the glaze so it scrapes off in sheets. Keep the can in the cabin — in a frozen-shut trunk it's useless.
Read full review
~$10 typical price
Buy on AmazonUse-case guide · 2026
Best winter car gear for Ice Storms & Freezing Rain
An ice storm is a different animal from snow. Everything is glazed — the windshield, the door seams, the wiper blades, the lock, the road — and the fix is chemistry and preparation more than brute force. The drivers who do fine are the ones who covered the windshield, have de-icer in the cabin, and aren't trying to get anywhere until the salt trucks have been through.
What an ice storm actually needs
First move
De-icer on the door seam and lock before you pull the handle
Must-haves
Cover, de-icer spray, beam wipers, traction grit
- ▸Ice glaze on a windshield is thick, hard, and bonded. Spray de-icer, wait a minute, and scrape — don't chip at it dry, and never pour hot water (thermal shock cracks glass).
- ▸Frozen wipers torn off the glass by a running motor strip their rubber. Free them with de-icer first, or lift them the night before.
- ▸A cover on the windshield the night before means the glaze forms on the cover, not the glass. Peel and go.
- ▸Chains help on packed snow; on sheer ice they help less than you'd hope. Sand or cat litter under the drive tires and patience beat everything.
Not sure what else you need? Build your personalized winter checklist →
Our picks
Heavy enough to lift off with the ice on top of it; the door flaps keep it in place when the wind picks up before the rain.
Read full review
~$30 typical price
Buy on Amazon
Frameless beam blades have nowhere for ice to pack, so they keep contact on the glass in freezing rain where framed blades skate.
Read full review
~$32 typical price
Buy on Amazon
When the driveway is an ice rink, boards under the drive tires are the difference between leaving and not.
Read full review
~$70 typical price
Buy on AmazonBefore you buy
- ▸Ice storms take down power lines and trees. If you don't have to drive, don't — the first hours are when roads are worst and crews are busiest.
- ▸Wipe door seals with silicone spray in the fall; they won't freeze to the door and tear.
- ▸Black ice on bridges and overpasses forms first and lasts longest. Slow down well before them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a car door that's frozen shut?
Spray de-icer along the seam and into the lock, wait a minute, then push on the door (don't pull the handle) to break the seal, and try again. Never yank a frozen handle — they snap. Silicone on the seals in the fall prevents it.
Can I pour hot water on a frozen windshield?
No. The thermal shock can crack the glass, and the water refreezes into a harder, thinner glaze. Use de-icer spray and a scraper, or run the defroster on low and wait.