Whats the best way to de-ice a windscreen?

dbs

What is the best way to de-ice a car windscreen or prevent it in the first place?

My de-icing skills are not very good at the best of times even worse after a nightshift.

Has anyone got any good tips on this subject?

Edinburghlass_2

Trying again to get this link to work....

There is a load of useful tips in this thread from the I Wanna board.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=114977

RightRevBod

I tend to start the engine as the first thing that I do. Put the heater on the hottest setting, and point the vents at the windscreen.

If I am doing this at home before leaving for work, I use a spare key in the ignition to start the car, then lock up with another key and go inside for 10 minutes to finish my mug of tea. When I come out the ice has usually melted, and I clear the now water from the windscreen with the wipers. The inside of the car is nice and warm and off I drive.

Otherwise, while the vents do their bit on the inside, I start scraping the windows with an ordinary £1.49 scraper on the outside. Start on the windscreen - then the drivers door/mirror and work my way around the car. Usually takes 5 minutes tops unless it is really cold.

Of course you should also put on your rear demister to help clear the back window. Mine has not worked for almost a year, so I skip this step. If you have heated mirrors, then make use of them as well.

Wig

The best way is to prevent the ice forming, do this by putting a blanket or newspaper on your screen overnight.

If you have ice, the quickest way to get rid of it is spray a deicer (99p) on it. If you don't want to use de icer spray, you can use strong (not watered down) screen wash in a manual-squoosh bottle (gardening type), or I suspect something like malt vinegar would also work.

trigger_mike

I personally start the car with the heater on full on the windscreen then get a kettle of WARM, not boiling as this will crack a screen, water and pour it on with the wipers on, always worked for me and never had any problem with it.
De-icer can damage the wiper blades by making them go hard and poris.

gingerdad

Heated windscreen is the best, but my car dosen't have one anymore

shown73

Cold water.

nelly_2

A kettle of water not boiled but half way there. Its a load of old b0llox that it breaks the glass I do it every cold day on my van and her car and nothing has ever broke.

buglawton

A kettle full of warm water from the tap. A quick pour over the side windows, then several layers one after the other over the windscreen - raises the temp slightly so it does not re-freeze. I would never risk boiling water as the screen is under stress all the time and I'd rather not test the 'will it crack' theory. Do the rear via the heated window switch.

wazza

RightRevBod wrote:

I tend to start the engine as the first thing that I do. Put the heater on the hottest setting, and point the vents at the windscreen.

If I am doing this at home before leaving for work, I use a spare key in the ignition to start the car, then lock up with another key and go inside for 10 minutes to finish my mug of tea. When I come out the ice has usually melted, and I clear the now water from the windscreen with the wipers. The inside of the car is nice and warm and off I drive.

Otherwise, while the vents do their bit on the inside, I start scraping the windows with an ordinary £1.49 scraper on the outside. Start on the windscreen - then the drivers door/mirror and work my way around the car. Usually takes 5 minutes tops unless it is really cold.

Of course you should also put on your rear demister to help clear the back window. Mine has not worked for almost a year, so I skip this step. If you have heated mirrors, then make use of them as well.

like to point some thing out. my car has an autolock steering lock. if i was to leave the engine running and pop into the house i will make sure that the lock is on and only the ignition key is inside the car. so when a car theif sees only the car key and not the steering lock key inside the car he will not be attempted to break the glass and drive your car away.

seriously i think you will do more damage to the engine while leaving it revved up when its cold. also it is illegal to leave ur car unattended while the engine is running

Dumbledore55

wazza wrote:

like to point some thing out. my car has an autolock steering lock. if i was to leave the engine running and pop into the house i will make sure that the lock is on and only the ignition key is inside the car. so when a car theif sees only the car key and not the steering lock key inside the car he will not be attempted to break the glass and drive your car away.

seriously i think you will do more damage to the engine while leaving it revved up when its cold. also it is illegal to leave ur car unattended while the engine is running

It can also be stolen and the insurance companies won't pay out in those circumstances!