Sure and the money saved can be used for the gasket replacement and paint
job. A scraper with a metal edge will help a lot with the tough stuff. They
also make window washer with a de-icer that also helps. When I snow the
freezing rain is in the way I park with the wipers lifted and let the engine
warm up enough for the defroster to start warming the glass. A little bit of
heat will get the ice free at the bottom of the windshield. Rain-X also
helps to keep the ice from sticking. After the window is clear and you are
driving resist the temptation to keep using the defroster to keep the
windshield warm. After you park that warm glass will just make sure the snow
and sleet will melt just enough to become one with the glass again. A cold
windshield will let some of the stuff just fall off.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Sunday, February 9, 2014 1:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: DIY windshield de-icing solution?

When ice forms overnight on my windshield, it's sometimes as hard and slick
as glass. My handy-dandy ice scraper just slides over it. I get good results
using the aerosol can of de-icing solution, but I wonder if I could save
some money by mixing my own (Erlenmeyer flasks, dry ice bubbling in beakers
of colored water) and keeping it in a Windex-type spray bottle?

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.