Warm water to de-ice the windscreen

[CoolHands]

Just off outside to defrost the car. With warm water <wibble>

I used to be a big doubter but then last year I thought fk it I'll try it. No windows were cracked. However it does want to refreeze, my best plan is to leave engine running and warm interior a bit, then use the warmish water to de-ice the windows.

Try it!

[897sma]

I've used hot water on the screen for years and never had a cracked one either. If the water is really hot then evaporates before refreezing. It also has the added bonus of warming the screen and keeps condensation down until the heater warms up

Edited by 897sma on Thursday 29th November 07:07

[Welshbeef]

Lots of frost or me this morning too.
It's days like today that I wish Ford Quickclear was available to all cars it is such a safety feature so many times I see people drive about with a tiny peep hole on the front screen.... Utter lunacy I give them a wide bearth.


Or should tidy the garage so car can be inside then frost peoblem isn't a problem at all.

[AMST09]

Cold water will work, aslong as the water is a few degrees it will work fine

I don't see the problem with using a scraper, people go on about heated screens, but by the time its kicked in I have scraped my van and left

[lestershaw]

warm water in a squeezy bottle or mist spray bottle from the hot tap
windscreen wipers on presuming they arent stuck to screen
keep door closed so water doesnt get wiped into the car
works for me

[Changedmyname]

I just put a cover over the windscreen the night before.

[Dog Star]

Trouble is that water will refreeze and cause inside fogging.
Second best idea is to simply scrape it off which is pretty quick and avoids the fogging.
Best idea is to simply cover the windscreen in a sheet of cardboard.

Or so what I do and keep the car under cover.

I'm also loving Lidl weapons-grade screenwash; no need for de-icer should you end up with ice on screen. Just squirt your jets.

[ajb85]

My £1 Pound-Land de-icer worked a treat this morn. All gone and defrosted like that *clicks fingers*.

Last year I stupidly switched on the single arm wiper on an old C Class Merc on an icey morning - bad idea! A knackered motor ensued which was not cheap to replace...

[With these feet]

Dog Star said:

I'm also loving Lidl weapons-grade screenwash; no need for de-icer should you end up with ice on screen. Just squirt your jets.

And leave the wiper blades stuck frozen to the screen!

[Vladikar]

My Ford Focus RS is brilliant with the QuickClear system, I always knew it was good but today it was really showing off... by the time I'd sent a text message on my phone my front and rear screen were both clear - my outside gauge measured -3.5 Degrees.

[gregpot2000]

Ha I've done that to my wiper motor before, mine was snow that had fallen from the roof while moving though, valuable lesson learnt that day!

[lbc]

No frost this morning in the Midlands,
but I always use an old sheet over the windscreen if there is a risk of overnight frost.

[Reardy Mister]

Have cracked screens before with warm water.

Then I had a Mondeo with the heated front screen. Why doesn't EVERY car have one? (patents aside)

For the BMW I considering getting a remote start fitted so that it can sit with the heating on for 10mins before I get in it.

[nosittap]

This morning I found out a credit card works much better than the ice scraper I bought.

[steveo3002]

never had any damage using water , common sense says you need it to be only slightly warm and not a freshly boiled kettle

start the car first and slosh some on so you can whip the door open and flick the wipers on as soon as its melted

[Captain Muppet]

I cracked the screen on my mk2 MR2 by washing it with cold water one summer. A thin trickle of water went down the screen from the roof and cracked the screen neatly in half.

That was bloody annoying.

[Glassman]

Reardy Mister said:

Why doesn't EVERY car have one? (patents aside)

Aston Martin, Renault, Land Rover, Shaguar, Toyota...

[kambites]

I use warm luke water and have never had a problem. If I ever have to replace the windscreen on my car I will get a heated one.

Generally my approach is this cunning thing called a "garage", though.

[bennyboydurham]

The only problem with Quickclear is the very fine elements running through the screen can be distracting when driving at night because they diffuse the headlights of oncoming cars.

My E65 has a heated element along the base of the windscreen which quickly frees up the wipers and allows them to do their stuff so the answer is weapons grade screen wash, front heated screen on, auxiliary heater kicks in anyway below 3 degrees and bob's your uncle. Within a few mins you're driving away.

[aj520d]

Does anyone use those de-icer sprays? the ones in the aerosol cans? I always found them to be good.