CarCareTruth Score
Decent, but wear gloves and ventilate.
Opens Amazon in a new tab. No account needed to look.
Saved to your guest loadout. Sign up to also save to your Cabinet (consumables) or Kit (tools you own).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Prices may varyThe manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet classifies this product with one or more GHS Category 1 health hazards — the most severe tier. The hazard statements in quotes below are the verbatim GHS language from the SDS, as required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. The line under each statement translates the GHS classification into plain language.
GHS Category 2 acute oral toxicity — classified as toxic if swallowed.
GHS Category 2 acute dermal toxicity — classified as toxic in contact with skin.
GHS Category 2 acute inhalation toxicity — classified as toxic if inhaled.
If swallowed, inhaled, or splashed in eyes:
Call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (US, 24/7, free) and have the product container with you. Poison Control's standing guidance is to not induce vomiting after chemical exposure; they will direct first-aid steps based on the specific product.
About this product's hazards. This product's Safety Data Sheet uses signal word danger. Read the manufacturer's SDS and follow all safety instructions before use. CarCareTruth ratings translate the manufacturer's safety sheet. They do not replace the SDS or substitute for a hazard assessment specific to your task.
Health score is for adult use as intended, per the manufacturer's SDS. It does not model child ingestion, accidental spill cleanup, or off-label use. See the safety panel below for full hazard classification, and /disclaimer for the full editorial scope.
GHS hazard codes are quoted from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet. PPE tiers below translate those codes and the listed ingredient chemistry; they are not CarCareTruth recommendations.
Show details for all categories ▾Hide details ▴
From the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
“H370 STOT SE Cat 1 targets the optic nerve (methanol). SDS §2 lists eyes as a target organ for single-exposure damage. GHS06 and GHS08 pictograms reinforce. Aerosol mist at face level during windshield application creates a direct eye exposure pathway.”
— Prestone
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
From the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
“H311 (toxic in contact with skin, Acute Tox dermal Cat 3). Methanol absorbs through skin causing systemic poisoning. GHS06 skull-and-crossbones pictogram present. SDS §2 classifies dermal toxicity at Cat 3.”
— Prestone
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.132(d); 1910.138(a)
“appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances.”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
From the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
“H331 (toxic if inhaled, Cat 3). Aerosol format generates methanol mist at face level during application. Outdoor use mitigates sustained exposure but does not eliminate inhalation risk from pressurized spray. GHS06 floor applies.”
— Prestone
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.134(a)(1)–(2)
“When effective engineering controls are not feasible… appropriate respirators shall be used.”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
No PPE specified in published sources for ventilation. Absence does not imply “not needed” — consult the full Safety Data Sheet.
PPE tiers translate the manufacturer’s SDS and U.S. regulatory standards. Not professional safety advice. How we report safety.
This product ranks #5 of 9 in Deicer / Frost Spray.Three above it ↓
Last reviewed June 14, 2026
TL;DR Community-confirmed fast ice clearing in general winter conditions · the −88°F label claim is not independently verified at that extreme, but the methanol chemistry (freeze point below −58°F) supports strong low-temp performance. No documented surface damage. Health 1.0/10: this is a methanol-based DANGER formula with acute toxicity on all three exposure routes and optic nerve damage risk · eye, skin, and respiratory protection are all warranted by the SDS hazard classification.
Prestone AS242 is a methanol-based aerosol deicer that clears frost and ice fast · reviews consistently describe rapid clearing within seconds of application. The formula uses methanol at 45·70% concentration rather than isopropyl alcohol, making it more effective at extreme cold but significantly more toxic. No documented paint, seal, or trim damage from normal windshield use. The 11 oz aerosol can includes a built-in polycarbonate ice scraper cap; reviews call the scraper mediocre compared to a dedicated tool, but the spray itself earns strong loyalty from repeat buyers who stock up before each winter.
Best for cold-climate drivers who park outside and need rapid ice clearing without extended scraping sessions · the methanol formula delivers genuine cold-weather performance. Skip it if you have children or pets with access to your vehicle supplies · methanol is acutely poisonous in small quantities and cannot be made nonpoisonous. Households concerned about handling toxicity should consider an IPA-based deicer, which scores significantly higher on health while still clearing ice effectively at moderate winter temperatures.
The SDS carries DANGER from health H-codes: H301 (toxic if swallowed), H311 (toxic in contact with skin), H331 (toxic if inhaled), and H370 (specific organ toxicity · optic nerve and CNS damage). This is genuine acute toxicity, not a physical flammability warning. Proposition 65 applies for reproductive harm (methanol + ethylene glycol). Eye protection, chemical-resistant gloves, and respiratory precaution are all justified by the SDS hazard classification for any scenario where aerosol mist contacts the face during application. Environmental footprint: high VOC from methanol content; methanol is readily biodegradable per SDS §12; neutral road-runoff pathway with no aquatic toxicity concern.
Methanol (methyl alcohol) at 45·70% by weight per SDS §3. This is NOT isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Methanol is the more effective ice-melting alcohol but carries serious acute toxicity · classified as toxic by all three exposure routes (swallowed, skin contact, inhaled) and causes irreversible optic nerve damage.
The product label claims deep freeze protection to −88°F. SDS §9 confirms a melting/freezing point below −58°F (< −50°C). Cold-climate community evidence confirms fast ice clearing in typical winter conditions, though no reviews specifically validate performance at the extreme −88°F claim.
No community reports of paint etching, rubber seal damage, or trim discoloration from normal windshield application. The product is sprayed on glass and ice · incidental contact with paint and seals during runoff has not produced documented damage complaints.
Methanol exposure is a medical concern. For eye contact: rinse continuously with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention. For skin contact: remove contaminated clothing and wash thoroughly. For ingestion: do NOT induce vomiting · seek immediate medical attention. The product label states it cannot be made nonpoisonous.
The DANGER signal word reflects acute toxicity from methanol on all three exposure routes (oral, dermal, inhalation) AND specific organ toxicity (STOT-SE Cat 1 targeting the central nervous system and optic nerve). It also carries flammable aerosol Cat 1 classification. This is a genuine health-driven DANGER, not a physical-only flammability warning.
Marketing copy from Prestone, via Amazon. Not editorial.
Weekly pick
One product, one safety verdict, every week. No spam.
CarPlan
Blue Star De-Icer Spray
nextzett
Eistau De-Icer Spray
Polar Specialist Coatings
Polar De-Icer Spray
EZR
Melt it! Windshield De-Icer, 17 oz (4-pack)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Community
0 postsShare how you use this product
Drop a quick comment or post a full review with photos and a star rating.
Sign in to postNew here? Create a free account.