Neighbour + ice + credit card - de-icer

[TonyRPH]

So.. my neighbour knows we will have ice at some point each year.

But for the past 8 years or so that they have lived next door to us, every time it's icy, she is caught out, having to de-ice her windscreen with a credit card.

And then, she usually drives away having only cleared her windscreen (leaving the side windows iced up).

As for her husband - well he drives a Transit van, and on icy days he'll be out at 6:45, start the van and leave it running for 15 - 20 mins. And yet he works 1 mile!! down the road...

Are there a lot of people like this???

Is it really that difficult to remember to buy a tin of de-icer? Or leave enough time to pour a bit of tepid water over the windscreen?

I cringe when I hear her windscreen wipers scraping across the ice.

[sday12]

Scrapping your windscreen will ruin the glass.
Using your wipers on a frozen windscreen will ruin the wipers.
De icer is expensive and will curdle your window rubbers.

Warm water will not crack your screen.

What's not to get?

[VR6 Turbo]

I have an old Plastic business card, its brilliant and scraping the ice off. it contours to the window perfectly.

VR

[kambites]

In my experience, when it's really cold warm water has an annoying tendency not to stay warm when it hits a cold screen, and to simply re-freeze, leaving an even thicker layer of ice behind.

Doesn't really work when leaving work rather than home, either.

[Leptons]

TonyRPH said:

So.. my neighbour knows we will have ice at some point each year.

But for the past 8 years or so that they have lived next door to us, every time it's icy, she is caught out, having to de-ice her windscreen with a credit card.

Whats wrong with that then. Credit cards are the best thing to use on frost they follow the contours of the screen perfectly. It's my weapon of choice when hot water isn't available.

[Cyder]

I use an old card to get the ice off, never had a problem yet other than cold hands.

[sday12]

kambites said:

In my experience, when it's really cold warm water has an annoying tendency not to stay warm when it hits a cold screen, and to simply re-freeze, leaving an even thicker layer of ice behind.

Doesn't really work when leaving work rather than home, either.

1. Turn your windscreen wipers on
2. Used 2 litre lemonade bottles kept under your desk/near radiator.

[road_rager]

If it's really cold I'll use an old store card... Warm water is great to a point but once it's really cold it just re-freezes

[kambites]

sday12 said:

1. Turn your windscreen wipers on
2. Used 2 litre lemonade bottles kept under your desk/near radiator.

I think I'll just stick to using de-icer when I'm at work (and the garage when I'm at home).

Getting the ice of the inside of the screen is the tricky bit.

[Classic Grad 98]

A mate of mine uses a CD-r. It doesn't work very well.
I have a Ford so I just hop in and wait a few minutes while the heated screen takes care of it

[tomwoodis]

I've got a supposed windscreen scrapper and frankly it's a pile of ste compared to a credit card. It cant flex like the card can so to be fair to her it doesn't seem that daft.

De-icer works well but it can't be good for the environment or the car id imagine.

Bit of elbow grease never did anybody any harm either.

If this is the most concerning thing on your mind at the moment then my god your going to have a good day

[bakerstreet]

I have one of those scrapers with a built in fluffy mit round the handle. Means I can scrape my car without my scraping hand getting cold. Only £3 from amazon

I saw someone doing it witha CD case the other day. All thei achieved was two very thin lines about 3in apart...

[EvoDelta]

I use one of those foil covers on the windscreen.

[Urban Sports]

I don't understand this problem, I just simply drive out of my garage.

[Jimslips]

I use remote start to heat the car up, then take warm water. not hard is it.
If I use a car without remote start I go out with a coffee/flask and start the car, pour warm water . 2l and then wipe it immediately.
Quite painless.
If I use another car it is outside with a cover so there is no ice.

[Jimslips]

Urban Sports said:

I don't understand this problem,

The cars being referred to in the OP are outside.

[SD1992]

Last year I was very thankful of the heated windscreen in my mk3 Mondeo, even if only parts of it worked

Strangely, my older and cheaper mk2 that I have now also has a heated windscreen, but all of it works!

[anonymous-user]

De-icer? What is that stuff??, I've just pressed a button on the dash for the last 15 years (OK, I lie, still got de-icer too for the side windows )

[supertouring]

With a little snow this morning, it is interesting to see how many people have only used their wipers to partically clear the front and (maybe) rear screens while the rest of the windows are completely covered in snow.

I guess they feel safe in their little metal box.

[MrDarkBlack]

Jimslips said:

Urban Sports said:

I don't understand this problem,

The cars being referred to in the OP are outside.

Woooo............