Of all the things we have to deal with during the winter, a car windshield coated in ice is undoubtedly the most stubborn and most frustrating of all. As a Western New York State resident, I’ve been scraping ice off car windows manually for decades, so I was extremely excited to try this gadget that promises to make the job faster and easier.

Tested by Emily Fazio

First Impressions

After trying it out on my vehicle not one — but three consecutive icy January mornings — I was impressed by how well it handled the job.

Straight out of the box, I noticed a few things. The ice scraper is lightweight and compact, small enough to fit in the glove compartment. It came with the battery pre-charged, so it was ready to go right away. The handle felt ergonomic in my hand, though I did struggle a bit with removing the protective plastic cover. Once I figured that out, I was ready to put it to the test.

How The Electric Ice Scraper Works

Using the scraper is straightforward. You unclip the shield, power it on and press it against the surface of the ice. The motor only activates when the blades make contact with a surface (a nice safety feature). As I pushed it gently but firmly against the windshield, the spinning plastic blades quickly chewed through the ice, revealing clear glass underneath.

The scraper is designed to be safe for your windows, but the instructions recommend avoiding contact with rubber seals around doors and windows. Even so, I was able to clear ice close to the edges, leaving only a narrow strip untouched.

The Pros Far Outweigh the Cons

With this ice scraper, I finished clearing all the windows on my minivan in under eight minutes. The battery held up the entire time without losing charge and I plugged it into the vehicle’s USB every day after use to recharge back to full. It’s worth noting that the tool requires a bit of arm strength to maintain pressure, so I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this job was entirely effortless, but it wasn’t difficult, either. Compared to a traditional ice scraper, it required more forearm muscles but was less of a workout for my shoulder and bicep. Even with gloves on, the handle was easy to grip and comfortable to use.

Overall, I thought the Garage21 Rechargeable Electric Windshield Ice Scraper was a really nice tool to have in hand. It made ice removal a bit less strenuous, efficient, and easy to use, cutting down the time and effort it takes to clear your car. While it has a couple of small quirks, the pros far outweigh the cons. If you’re tired of struggling with icy windshields on cold mornings, this scraper might just become your new best friend.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Emily lives in the northeast, so icy mornings are a regular part of her life. She has been a contributing writer to HGTV.com for over 12 years helping homeowners with home improvement, cleaning, gardening, crafts and more. She's an expert on a variety of topics including how to thaw frozen pipes, the best way to clean an electric blanket and how to keep kids busy on a snow day.

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HGTV Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are not tested in sterile laboratory settings that don't mimic real life. Instead, we test products in real homes that reflect our readers' real lives, which can also include pets, kids, partners and more. Our goal is to choose the best products for our readers.