De-icing - is there a better way?

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Morning all,

I spent a fun-filled, freezing, 10 mins this morning trying to de-ice my car before I drove to the station. In the end it was barely passable, and still felt a bit like I was driving blind.

So, what do you use to de-ice your cars....

Any links to top products, or tips on technique would be welcomed!
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
Buy a Range Rover. They have a small remote control fob that you press (from the warmth of your house) 5 mins before you intend to leave, and it preheats the car, clears the windows, etc. Joyous.
 

empzb

Member
Messages
229
I just use boiling water. Granted that's just on the family wagons so I'm a little less precious. Always have in the 14 years I've been driving though.
 

RoaryRati

Member
Messages
1,582
I put a sheet over the windscreen but still warm the car up a bit first before carefully removing it
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
I just start the engine, rear screen heater on, front screen de-icing set on heater, scrape what I can off with heater. Noticed driver mirror heater not working tho.

Engine nearly warm by then, which is good cos my car (a DS) can be really bitchy in the cold with odd gear changes and general lethargy.
 

Doohickey

Velociraptor
Messages
2,496
Pop out and stick a hot water bottle on the dash 5/10 mins before you leave. At least makes a start on clearing the windscreen. Not as good as a Rangie though.

My brother has an XC90 hybrid that he can programme to heat the car up in the morning!
 

Swedish Paul

Member
Messages
1,807
Buy a decent scraper. I bought one from Halfords for a fiver, a Finnish brand that we use in Sweden too and it took me less than 2 minutes. The windows will not refreeze like with a de-icer or hot water.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,763
The flu for the oil heating here pops out just at bonnet level so by parking the daily hack next to it each night reduces the need to de-ice
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Have to say my current 12 year-old daily, a 2007 BMW E60 5-Series, has one of the best de-icing de-misting systems I have ever encountered. Get in car, start engine, press relevant buttons, check a few emails on phone (and sportsmaserati of course) and within 2-3 minutes I am good to go. I do have a really good scraper in the car but so far I have no had to get out and freeze my nuts off to use it. Same amount of time that would take and the car has done it for me.
 
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lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
I spent a fun-filled, freezing, 10 mins this morning trying to de-ice my car before I drove to the station. In the end it was barely passable, and still felt a bit like I was driving blind.
send the wife out;), on a serious note I do believe that the police can prosecute drivers for not clearing windscreens properly