Vinegar spray keeps the ice at bay

[Tom]

This is from Hints fron Heloise in today's Washington Post:

 

"Dear Heloise: In the wintertime, I spray the outside

glass on my vehicle with VINEGAR. In case it gets

below freezing and snows, the ice and snow won’t

stick to the windows. When the other cars’ windows

are covered with ice and snow, mine are clear. --

 

Marvin O. in Montana

 

This is an old, classic Heloise hint. You want to mix

either white or cider vinegar with water (a ratio of 3

parts vinegar to 1 part water) before using on car

windows." 

 

Anyone ever use this? Does it work?  Will it hirt the finish?  

Tom

[Jus-A-CMax]

white vinegar and water is the best for cleaning windows, doesn't leave streak like the blue stuff....

 

Thanksf for the tip :)

[scottwood2]

I have used this to remove hard water spots from well water.  It works well for that but I think it also removes the wax.  No issues with the paint from what I see and I don't know for sure about the wax but I am pretty sure it takes everything off. 

[fbov]

...Does it work?  Will it hurt the finish? 

Yes, and No, respectively.

 

Any time you mix water with something, you raise the boiling point and reduce the freezing point. It's why we treat our roads with salt when it's cold out. The effect in this case, however, depends on the mixture freezing, as the freezing process will tend to concentrate the vinegar as water molecules shift from liquid to solid state. That results in a higher-concentration bottom layer that is weaker mechanically than the bulk ice that forms on top, which should make removal easier.

 

As to damage, consider that lemon juice is about as strong an acid as white vinegar, and there's lots of water around to dilute it.

 

Thanks for asking, as I wasn't thinking in terms of a mechanical effect until I read that link. I learned something, too!

 

Have fun,

Frank

[BIG ROCCO]

Personally, I prefer balsamic vinegar...on my salad :)