What is the best way of clearing ice off windows?

Strider590

I open the boot, unplug the mains cable from the side of my garage, throw it into the boot, move the 1.5kw heater from the centre arm rest onto the floor behind the drivers seat and then drive off..... Total time = about 20 seconds :cool:

I have to be honest, im starting to wonder if an 8hr tea light, in a suitable/sturdy container, would also keep the car defrosted over night (it only needs to be slightly warmer than the air outside). Setting it up safely however, would probably require more common sense than the average UK citizen is capable of.

cepheus

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I don't think the physics behind it were ever in doubt, were they?

It would depend on the glass, obviously Pyrex is resistant to this effect due to the low expansion. Jam jars have low spec glass anyway. Windshield's are laminated, but I'm not sure if this would make them more resistant or not to differential expansion.

All I can say is that I've done this with all the windows, and perhaps a thousand times without a problem and with quite hot water or else it will refreeze.

I think the cracked windscreens might occur because they already have a crack in them. Water gets in the crack which then expands as it cools.

Strangely enough I put some Lidl screenwash in a few weeks ago. Perhaps it didn't mix properly, but certainly made a mess.

I'll give the pure stuff a try on the windscreen next time

BeenThroughItAll

cepheus wrote: »

Strangely enough I put some Lidl screenwash in a few weeks ago. Perhaps it didn't mix properly.

Beware, all LIDL screenwash is not equal. There is the 'normal' LIDL pre-mixed stuff, then there is the LIDL uber-screenwash which is more like liquid magic.

harveybobbles

My method:

Start car. Put heater and heated front screen on. Scrape the side windows and clear the lights. Get in. Car toasty warm and drive off.

Marktheshark

Used watering can of luke warm water for 30+ years and no the screen has never cracked.

wiogs

Marktheshark wrote: »

Used watering can of luke warm water for 30+ years and no the screen has never cracked.

Bloody hell 30+ years!

How frozen was that windscreen?

heartbreak_star

I scrape the glass with a bog-standard scraper. Nice bit of early morning cardio!

(Live in the NE, on the top of a hill haha!)

HBS x

OnanTheBarbarian

Come out the house, start the car, put the heater on full etc and go back inside and finish my cup of tea, drive to work.

Marktheshark

OnanTheBarbarian wrote: »

Come out the house, start the car, put the heater on full etc and go back inside and finish my cup of tea, drive to work.

We can tell you dont live in Leeds.

davetrousers

Put a cover on the night before.

Prevention is better than cure.