How To Remove Snow From Your Car Without A Scraper

If you've ever lived somewhere that experiences harsh winters with heavy snowfall, you probably understand just how debilitating that seasonal weather can be. Not only does it make commuting more perilous — if you don't have access to indoor parking, simply preparing your car to drive in the morning can be an odious chore if you have to remove large amounts of snow and ice. It's bad enough trudging out to your driveway in frigid temperatures first thing in the morning. Clearing off several inches of snow that fell in the night and defrosting your windows only seems to add insult to injury. However, the situation can quickly turn into a full-blown nightmare if you don't have a quality scraper to help clean your windshield, especially if you're dealing with thick ice in addition to snow.

We won't lie — a dedicated scraper tool is generally the best way to remove snow from your car. If you don't have one, though, or if you're not able to use one due to an injury or limiting condition, you're not entirely out of luck. In reality, there are several ways to remove snow from your car without a scraper, which is exactly what we're going to cover in this article. These methods may provide degrees of efficacy, but they could definitely be useful in a pinch. So, from DIY methods like hot water and old credit cards to dedicated deicing chemicals, here are five ways to remove snow from your car without a scraper.

If you walk out to your car to discover a heavy layer of snow and you don't have a scraper, one of the first things you can try is a broom or brush of some kind. This method works best if you're dealing with fluffy snow, as opposed to thick wet snow or a heavy layer of ice. You'll want to use a broom or brush that won't damage your car's paint or the windows. So, something without exposed metal or harsh bristles is best. Also, you need to ensure that, if you use the broom for other chores, that there is no debris, like twigs or pebbles, stuck in the bristles to scratch your car.

Once you have your broom or brush, simply use it like you would a scraper. Push the snow off of the top of your vehicle, as well as off of all windows. It's a good idea to remove any snow from the hood also to prevent it from impeding your line of sight or blowing up onto your windshield as you drive.

This method may not work well if you're injured or otherwise unable to use the broom. It may also be more difficult for larger vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs. Don't worry, though, there are still various other methods you can use to remove snow from your car without a scraper.

Often, clearing a top layer of snow off of your car is only the first step. It's incredibly common for a thick layer of ice to be lurking beneath that snow, which can transform a moderately inconvenient task into a complete nightmare. That's because even thin layers of ice can be incredibly challenging to remove. Having a quality scraper tool can help. However, if you don't have a scraper or can't use one, clearing ice off your windows and windshield can feel all but impossible.

Fortunately, there are some other options. One of the best ways to knock out a stubborn layer of ice on your car quickly and easily is by using a deicing chemical. These products contain things like different types of chlorides, like sodium chloride or regular salt, to help break down and melt ice. Most de-icers contain multiple chlorides in order to melt ice at different temperatures. You can buy bottles of de-icing spray, like Prestone Windshield Spray De-Icer, which, according to the product description, also helps prevent the development of more ice while helping to keep your windshield clean. You could also grab a bottle of a product like Rain-X Extreme Temp De-Icer, which goes into your windshield wiper fluid reservoir.

Regardless of the type of product you choose, they work in a similar way. For a spray, you'll need to clear off any snow first, and then douse the windshield and windows liberally with the chemical. For a wiper fluid de-icer, simply use the button inside your car's cabin to spray wiper fluid onto the windshield. The chemicals should start working to melt the ice within a few minutes, but you should turn your engine on and start the defroster to help speed up the process.

If you don't have a snow scraper, and you also don't have access to a de-icing product, clearing snow and ice off the windows and windshield in the morning can be exceptionally challenging. However, there are still some things you can try to get the job done. While fluffy snow may be relatively easy to remove, depending on your vehicle's size and the tools you have available, ice is a different beast entirely. Fortunately, you probably have a few household items sitting around that may work to remove ice in a pinch.

One item that most people have access to is an old credit card or something similar, like an expired driver's license. You can use the hard plastic edge of these items in the same way that you would a scraper to remove ice. It definitely won't be as effective as a dedicated snow and ice scraper tool. However, if you're in a bind and need to clear some window or windshield space quickly, an old credit card could be just the answer. 

Using this method will be substantially more efficient if you turn on your car's defroster first. Allow the engine to run for a few minutes if you have the time, and then start scraping away at the windows. Sometimes, if you clear small spaces, it will allow the remaining ice to melt more quickly and enable your windshield wipers to knock out the rest. If you really want to be crafty, you could even connect several old credit cards together to make your own improvised scraper. Whether the effort to do so is worth it or not is up to you, but it could be a fun DIY craft project at the very least.

Rubber floor mats are one of the best non-performance car mods that you can install. Not only do they help maintain a clean interior by protecting our vehicle floors from dirt and mud, but they can also provide enhanced comfort and shock absorption, prevent your feet from slipping, and even help you clear snow off your car in a pinch.

If you don't have a scraper tool, and you discover a thick layer of snow on your vehicle in the morning, you may be able to use your rubber floor mats. We say rubber because, even though cloth floor mats will function in a similar way, they'll also absorb a lot of moisture from the snow, potentially leading to things like mildew. If you have rubber floor mats, though, you can use one as an improvised scraper. Simply grab one of your longer mats and bend it slightly so that its edge forms a semicircle. Then, use it like you would a squeegee to sweep off snow, or you can flatten it and use it to scoop snow off the car.

You can use this method anywhere on your vehicle, as a quality rubber mat shouldn't harm your car's paint or glass. It may be more challenging to use this tactic for large SUVs and pickup trucks, but it's still a viable method if you have no other options. One tip to practice if you try this approach is to use the top side of your mat to remove snow. Then, just shake it off and place it back inside your vehicle with the wet side facing up, allowing it to dry as usual.

We've already covered automotive de-icers that you can buy from auto parts stores and other retail locations. However, if a snowstorm takes you by surprise, and you don't have one of those products or a scraper tool, you may find yourself stuck at home with a snow-caked car. Fortunately, there are still some things you can try, including making your own de-icer.

There are various ways to make a homemade car de-icer, most of which use common household items that you probably already possess. One of the easiest and quickest methods involves using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. For this tactic, fill a spray bottle roughly two thirds with isopropyl alcohol and the remaining third with water. Then, spray the solution onto your windshield and windows while the defroster is running. 

Other than water and rubbing alcohol, you can also mix water with ethyl alcohol, like vodka. Another method to try is pickle juice. If you have an old jar of pickles lying around, you can try spraying some of the liquid onto your windows and windshield. The mixture of salt and vinegar contained in the juice can help melt ice and snow, but you will need to prioritize a car wash after using it, as salt can contribute to corrosion and damage your vehicle's paint.

If you don't have a scraper tool and none of the other methods discussed here work for you, don't despair. You can still try one more tactic to remove snow from your car without a scraper. This approach relies on the use of a leaf blower, and it could be a viable method for clearing off large amounts of snow, though it probably won't work well for thick layers of ice.

To get started, grab your leaf blower and plug it in if it's corded, connect a charged battery pack if it's wireless, or crank up the engine if it's gas-powered. Then, start blowing air at the sides and top of your vehicle. The blower should be able to dislodge large amounts of fluffy snow. 

In contrast to the other methods covered here, you may not want to turn on your defroster when using this tactic. Doing so can help melt ice and snow. However, if you melt the snow enough, it will become denser and heavier, potentially making your leaf blower less effective. Instead, try using the blower to clear off large amounts of snow, and then start your engine and the defroster to help melt any remaining ice.