Best way to de-ice

[Lois]

I've done a quick search and couldn't fine any so apologies if it's a re-post.

What's your preferred method of de-icing?
I always worry about using warm water and tepid just seems to re-freeze in weather as cold as today!
De-icer - had hit and miss results with different ones and figure it's probably not over good for the rubber seals.
Scraping - well blow me if I can find an ice scraper than does more that create thin lines in the ice! Usually use an old credit card but today even that did little more than remove the surface frost.

With my stupid shifts I don't really want to spend ages faffing about getting cold and certainly don't have time to just leave the engine running to warm it up. So I put it to the experts....

[DrTre]

I can never be arsed but paper/tarp on the screen always seems to do the trick (overnight I mean).

Whatever you do, don't spend £4 on the spray stuff at Shell garages....it works....eventually. Although the spray is pretty much like you get on the "soft" setting on water spray bottles meaning in the slightest wind it just blows away...

Edited by DrTre on Monday 1st December 19:05

[crankedup]

Bung several sheets of newspaper or such like over the windscreen when frost threatens. Saves all that early morning bind.

[snotrag]

Easiest way is to stop it icing up in the first place. Cover the windows with one of those half covers.

[andrewrob]

I used the tepid water trick this morning. Works fine as long as u have the wipers on straight away or during.

[Mark-C]

I may be showing my age but a cassette case does me fine. Stronger and slightly wider than a credit card and can bite into the deep stuff. A good scrape all over and then a quick spray of de-icer to stop it freezing again. get the engine running and demister on whilst doing this and you should be ready to roll.

Any worse than this and it's back to bed with a large cuppa ....

ETA: Doh ... everyone else is much brighter than me. Cover it up overnight so you don't need to bother

Edited by Mark-C on Monday 1st December 19:09

[tomTVR]

Cant you buy de-icer which goes in the screen wash? Buy it in big containers and lasts ages.

[Balmoral Green]

For me, a good scraper, but they are hard to find, so many are just rubbish. I have a small green Daewoo scraper from years ago, it just bites right in and clears perfect immaculate full width neat bands. It takes me hardly any time. I don't like de-icers, they make a mess and often re-freeze once on the move, especially on the wiper blade joints.

Edited by Balmoral Green on Monday 1st December 19:10

[Darkslider]

Get a car/windscreen cover, will keep most of it at bay. Failing that start the car and let it run for 15-20 minutes before you set off (assuming it's not parked on the street) this is what I do as it's toasty warm when you get in and already up to temperature so I feel less guilty about hooning my way to work.

[sstein]

Stick the heater on and wait till it melts, it only takes a few minutes

-

Stuart

[andy-xr]

Well, I press the heated front screen button, then the heated rear screen button, fiddle with the Ipod, wait for the mirrors to heat up and think about setting off

[tomTVR]

andy-xr said:

Well, I press the heated front screen button, then the heated rear screen button, fiddle with the Ipod, wait for the mirrors to heat up and think about setting off

Well lardy-dar

[richyb]

You should go for the age old method passed from generation to generation. Go start up the car, put your kid in the passengers seat, blowers and heater on full, get out and tell the kid to lock themselves in, go back to the house and have a bit of toast and a cuppa. 5 mins later and its job done.

[Lois]

Thankfully I have no kids to do that and no time to sit and wait.
I tried using some old material last winter and it either blew off or made my car wet when I tried to secure it in the doors!!

[skinner05]

What damage can warm water do to a windscreen?

[Piersman2]

I start the engine.

The car automatically sets the air con to defrost and turns on both the front and rear window heaters.

I usually have to sit in the car and twiddle my thumbs for about 30 secs before a sweep of the wipers clears the screen [smug icon]

Failing that, with previous cars I've kept a watering can handy and fill it with warm water which I pour over all the glass to clear it.

[Mk2 Jim]

My car is old and living in a pretty exposed area it freezes really heavily both at home and work.
I use Halfords night before de - icer, it works well, clears with your wipers in the morning and has always worked for me.

[Stu R]

De-icer works for me.

[Piersman2]

skinner05 said:

What damage can warm water do to a windscreen?

Supposedly it can crack the glass. But I think you'd have to use very hot water and only pour it in one place to make the screen expand unevenly.

For years, in Aberdeen, a watering can of quite warm water applied evenly over the screen worked a treat, never a problem.

I wouldnt advise throwing a freshly boiled kettle of water onto your screen though!

[V8mate]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You have to stop your wipers mid-wipe to hold it down