de-icing the car

[darmstadt]

I have an underground carpark.

[ferret]

I find that technique just causes the water to ice up almost immediately if it is below zero.

If the water is hot enough it takes a while, as soon as the ice has thawed use the windscreen wipers to clear the icy sludge, any remnants can be scraped off with much less effort. If in the car quickly and the heating on then the ice does not form.

If very cold it is not as effective though I do agree.

[KathyWoolfe]

On my previous car I used a scraper as I found out that though the spray de-ices the windscreen, by the time you've driven 100 yards the windscreen has iced up again due to the freezing air blowing over the windscreen and icing up the liquid part of the de-icer that you've just sprayed on.
My current car has a heated front windscreen capability as well as rear windscreen heating and with the fan blowing in the car to de-mist the interior the visibility is fine after just a few minutes.

[TimberWolf]

I imagine you'd get a similar result with a high concentration of anti-freeze in the cars' windscreen washer bottle, and using the sprayer to de-ice. Never tried it since I figured it might rot the window rubber and spoil paintwork.

[Clippy]

Get a convertible - problem solved.

Next.

[Jog On]

I use my sainsbury's nectar card - which is quite good.

[miffy]

If the water is hot enough it takes a while, as soon as the ice has thawed use the windscreen wipers to clear the icy sludge, any remnants can be scarped off with much less effort. If in the car quickly and the heating on then the ice does not form.

If very cold it is not as effective though I do agree.

I've always done this, luke warm water in the kettle and a silicone "blade" to sheet off the water from the screen. Works very well. I do all the windows on my car in under a minute.

No good for trucks, but sockpuppets idea is far better (i.e. throwing a cover or your spiderman duvet over the truck).

[oracleslave]

If the water is hot enough it takes a while, as soon as the ice has thawed use the windscreen wipers to clear the icy sludge, any remnants can be scarped off with much less effort. If in the car quickly and the heating on then the ice does not form.

If very cold it is not as effective though I do agree.

This is what I do.

[TimberWolf]

Driver fined for leaving engine running as car defrosted outside his home. Apparently it's a prosecutable offence called 'quitting'.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

"Every year we appeal to members of the public not to leave their cars running unattended on cold frosty mornings which are easy pickings for thieves.

"Not only does this practice invalidate your insurance if cars are stolen in this way but there are also offenders looking to steal high powered cars to commit crime, especially at this time of year."

[lilelvis2000]

What else is new? That's england for you folks.

Luckily I have a driveway which means I can legally leave my car running in this way....I hope. There may be a law against that as well.