Frozen windscreen: four things that ruin it faster than a stone

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Every January we see cars with cracked glass nobody hit. The drivers cracked it themselves — usually while de-icing.

The glass in a car is not one piece. The windscreen is laminated — two panes with a film between them — and each layer expands differently with temperature. That difference is where self-inflicted cracks come from.

Hot water from a kettle. The classic we still see. An eighty-degree difference creates stress that even healthy glass cannot take. If there is already a small chip, the crack starts instantly.

Heater on full right after starting. Same problem, slower. Hot air on frozen glass warms it from the inside while the outside stays below zero. Start on the lowest setting and raise it gradually.

A sharp or metal scraper. It will not crack the glass, but it leaves fine grooves that scatter oncoming headlights at night. A plastic scraper costs three euros.

Wipers switched on while frozen to the glass. The motor does not try to be gentle — it pulls until something gives. Free them by hand first.

What works: de-icer spray, a plastic scraper, a windscreen cover overnight and patience. And if you already have damage, do not take it into winter.

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