De-icer? (OS or eco-friendly)

earthmother

Not sure if this belongs here or on the eco-friendly board, but here goes

Has anyone got any chemical-free de-icer ideas - is there a solution of some sort we can make up?

Really don't want to use those foul smelling sprays on the car windscreen any more

Katgoddess

A plastic water bottle filled with warm (not hot) water from the tap poured over the car works for me.

I normally keep a can of de icer as back up anyway incase of heavy snowfall or something.

Smashing

One of those plastic scraper thingies and a lot of elbow grease.

Warms you up on a cold morning.

jessicamb

Is deicer not just 'posh' salt water? I could be wrong its just an idea I've got in my head.

Smashing

jessicamb wrote:

Is deicer not just 'posh' salt water?

Does it speak with an accent?

jessicamb

Smashing wrote:

Does it speak with an accent?

Yes - It sounds a little bit like Frosty the Snowman :rotfl:

earthmother

Thanks - wasn't sure if there would be some method, possibly more effective, other than just water.

The scraper is ok to a point - but I can't reach the windscreen in the middle, so end up with a line of ice down the middle - need something to finish that last little bit.

sundin13

Pouring salt water over your car is a quick way to start it rusting. In Canada, because they have to salt the roads so much the cars just drop to pieces after a few years - its quite common for people to have summer cars and then 'beaters' - old cars to drive in the winter when the salt is a problem.

The warm water should work ok - boiling might crack your windscreen so be careful. We could never do it in Canada because it would freeze solid in minutes.
The best tip I'd offer would be to make sure you've got a big a$$ scraper. I see so many people scratching away with a tiny little flimsy thing that cost 10p. For a bit more you can get a wider, more sturdy one that will do a much better job. My Mum bought OH a great one this Christmas, which is attached to a furry mitten thing, so your hands stay warm.

HTH

earthmother

Thanks sundin - that scraper with the mitten sounds a great idea