Last night it started raining which changed to sleet which turned to ice and then some snow to top it all off. Not a lot, maybe an inch or two on our cars, but the freeze made it all stick to the car and windows like gorilla glue. I could not even budge my car doors to open and know enough not to force this action for fear of tearing the rubber molding. Car people call this rubber edging a gasket.
I couldn't even scrape it off the windows much less open the doors to run the engine. So what to do? Dale is gone so I couldn't ask him. It's Sunday and no one is around here. Google is my friend and should be yours. I googled how to open an iced up car door and got the best advice ever.
The first answer was to use a plastic scraper or a rubber spatula along the edges of the door and try to dig off some of the ice. That worked pretty good but not enough. The second answer had all kinds of liquids that might melt the ice, including a de-icer like Heat, rubbing alcohol (no no no), windshield wiper fluid, and plain tap water. Also mentioned was using a hair dryer, but you have to get an extension cord and a plug in spot and worse, the heat from the dryer could cause the cold window to crack.
I used the rubber spatula and then got a pitcher of cool tap water and poured it all along the edge of the door, top and side. This was amazing, the door opened immediately. Another life lesson learned. You don't need hot water (never!) or even warm water. The normal cool tap water is still warmer than the ice.
The rest of the truck is still ice/sleet/snow covered but if I have to I could drive it.
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