Have you ever been in a situation where you came across a small chip or crack in your windshield but don’t want to spend the money to get it repaired? Safe to say that we all have and believe it or not, you might have all of the tools to fix it yourself in the comfort of your own home.

Windshield repair is definitely worth spending the money to get done, but if you’re in a bind and don’t want to spend the money, there are a few ways you can do it and save yourself the hassle of getting it repaired by a professional.

During a time like this, where people are limiting their contact with others, this step by step guide on what you’ll need to repair your windshield is the ultimate way to social distance and stay at home.

Keep in mind that this DIY repair is only temporary. Eventually, you will have to take your vehicle to a professional for a proper fix or buy a proper repair kit from an auto repair shop. In the meantime, knowing how to fix a cracked windshield with things you have laying around the house is a good short-term fix and can buy you a little extra time.

Before reading, check out this video on how to fix a chipped windshield on your own with super glue!

1.Grab Clear Nail Polish

If your windshield has a small chip or crack in it, you might be able to quickly fix it with clear nail polish. Crazy right? By using this household item you’re already saving crazy amounts of money. All you need is a bottle of this stuff and a nail polish brush and you are good to go.

Why clear nail polish? Using this household item is a cheap and easy way to fix the crack or chip and prevent it from expanding. It’s a short-term repair but it’ll do the trick!

The steps to doing this repair are quick and easy! First you are going to want to pull your car under a shaded area or in a garage if you have one. This will make sure that the polish doesn’t dry too fast. The next thing you want to make sure you do is clean the windshield thoroughly and ensure that there is no debris around the impact point or anywhere on the windshield. Lastly, but enough clear nail polish on the brush to cover the entire crack. You also want to make sure you evenly coat the polish on the impact point.

If the crack is deeper fill it with clear polish and make sure its smoothed over evenly on the area of the windshield. An important part of this process is to make sure you feel the ends on the crack a little more than other places of the impact point. By doing this, it will stop the crack from spreading temporarily. When you have completed all of these steps, move your car back out in the sun so the crack can dry and seal.

2. If You Don’t Have Clear Nail Polish, Grab Your Crazy Clue

This method is similar to the first one. Put your car in a shaded area, thoroughly clean the windshield, apply the crazy glue evenly.

Although this method has similar steps, you will need a few extra items if you decide you want to repair your windshield with crazy glue:

• You will need a set of scissors to open the glue
• Don’t forget to grab your most important item, the crazy glue!
• Cotton swabs
• Glue Remover

Once you have all of these items, cut the tip of the crazy glue to open it and make sure you don’t get the glue on your hands. Super glue can be extremely hard to remove. Once you have applied the glue on the impact point, grab your cotton swab and gently spread the glue to fill the areas. After you have completed this step, use an extra cotton swab to get rid of any extra glue that may have been left behind around the area. Let the glue dry for a few hours and clean any dried-up glue with the glue remover. Now, you’re all set.

3. Last Resort: Make Your Own Mix

If you don’t have clear nail polish or crazy glue, we’ve got one more trick up our sleeves that could help you temporarily fix your cracked windshield.

 To create your own mix, you will need:

• Rubbing Alcohol
• Water
• Salt
• Bug Repellent
• Sponge

This process may take a little longer, but it will still to the trick to fix your cracked windshield. Mix a ½ cup of water, 1 tbsp of salt, 1 teaspoon of bug repellent of your choice, and 1 tbsp of rubbing alcohol in a bowl. Once all of this is in the bowl mix until the salt is fully dissolved until you can no longer see it. When your mix is ready, take your sponge and submerge it in the solution. Take the wet sponge and apply it to the crack. When you have done this step, allow the crack to dry and let it sit for 2-3 hours. If the crack is still visible after a few hours, take your sponge and repeat the steps again. It may take a couple of times to repair the impact point. Keep doing these steps until the crack is no longer visible.

Think You Can Do It Yourself?

All of these methods are simple and inexpensive. Not only that, you can fix your cracked windshield without coming in contact with anyone.

2020 has been a roller coaster of a year, and a lot of people don’t feel comfortable leaving their homes if they don’t have to. These methods can stop a crack from spreading but it’s important to remember these DIY at home fixes are only temporary. When you feel comfortable, take your car to Auto Glass Doc or your nearest Auto Repair Shop for a long-term solution.