Best way to de-ice a windscreen?

EvilSmurf

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It's that time of year again where your cars windscreen gets all icy and snowy. What's the best way to get rid of it? The way I do it is I get a gallon or two of the hottest water my tap will let out (which is probably around 80 centigrade) and pouring it on the windscreen and then let the car sit for about 20 minutes. Is that the best way or is there something better?
 
Just let the car warm up and let the defroster work. If you are in a hurry, use an ice scraper. You wouldn't believe how many people I see driving around completely blind, I hope they don't kill too many people.
 
Try using a hair dryer. It works pretty good. But to avoid it altogether, use something to cover it at night. It might be tricky to find something to fit, be resourceful. Just don't use something that will absorb water and freeze to your windshield. The hair dryer works quite well though.
 
Don't pour hot water on it!

I watched a woman do that in North Dakota several years ago and it cracked all over.
 
You can buy light weight non-absorbing covers for your windscreen or the whole top of your car. I am guessing they are for sale in the USA too, since most such things are made in China. I would avoid the patented Evilsmurf-method since all that water could re-freeze somewhere inconvenient. Locks and door gaskets come to mind.

What about a Vietnam-era US army surplus portable flamethrower? I have really wanted one some mornings...
 
Actually, cold tap water works quite well, and causes less thermal shock on the windshield than hot water. The point about the water run-off freezing somewhere else is a good point. I've had it freeze the latching mechanism on the driver's side door before, and had to get in from the other side.

Beanbag
 
Well, maybe it's just me, but I use windshield wiper fluid.

But because no one said that, I'm starting to think I'm not suppose to do that...but it works fine for me.
 
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Starthinker said:
Just let the car warm up and let the defroster work. If you are in a hurry, use an ice scraper.
Click to expand...

Seconded.

I would recommend an ice scraper that has both a ridged side and a simple bladed side.
 
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Starthinker said:
Just let the car warm up and let the defroster work. If you are in a hurry, use an ice scraper. You wouldn't believe how many people I see driving around completely blind, I hope they don't kill too many people.
Click to expand...

Ever come across a wandering igloo? I've seen a couple of those in my day.
 
EvilSmurf said:
It's that time of year again where your cars windscreen gets all icy and snowy. What's the best way to get rid of it? The way I do it is I get a gallon or two of the hottest water my tap will let out (which is probably around 80 centigrade) and pouring it on the windscreen and then let the car sit for about 20 minutes. Is that the best way or is there something better?
Click to expand...

That will work, but you must make absolutely certain that very little if any hot water makes its way into the door mechanisms --- both the hinges and especially the locks. You can literally freeze yourself locked into your car by the time you get to where you're going.
 
EvilSmurf said:
It's that time of year again where your cars windscreen gets all icy and snowy. What's the best way to get rid of it? The way I do it is I get a gallon or two of the hottest water my tap will let out (which is probably around 80 centigrade) and pouring it on the windscreen and then let the car sit for about 20 minutes. Is that the best way or is there something better?
Click to expand...
Hope your windscreen is in great shape so it doesn't crack/shatter - and remember the water will freeze in some other place in a short time - especially if windy and cold. Cold alcohol or room temp alcohol will do- though it is not great for some wipers.
 
Years ago, I rigged a dryer/blower from an old copier on a stand in the back seat of my VW bug and a timer that turned it on 45 minutes before I needed to leave for work. When I got in the car it was already toasty warm and all the windows were clear. Now, I don't have to get up at such unreasonable times so the sun has often cleared or at least softened the ice for me.

If you decide to use the heater method, keep in mind the potential fire hazard if the heater is not secured and the risks caused by having the electrical cord out in the weather.
 
Okay, I don't live where it gets as cold as other places, but some mornings I do encounter a windshield that has a substantial layer of ice. What I do is set the defrosters on high, turn the heater on to the max, turn on the air conditioner light (it reduces the condensation on the inside of the windshield) --- and then sit there for about five minutes drinking my coffee and listening to the radio.

Then I get out with the ice scaper and scrape ice. The defroster wires on the back window have warmed up the window so it easier to scrape the ice (I start there first). Then the warmth from inside the car makes the ice on the front and side windows easier to scrape.

Many years ago my sister-in-law bought us a heated ice scraper. It was a typical scraper that you plugged into the cigarette lighter (or more accurately these day known as the auto power source outlet), that powered some heating coils under the scraper. It was supposed to help with ice... I don't know if it worked, we never used it, and I am not sure if I know where it is.

Of course, the best way to deal with ice cold mornings is to take the car that lives in the garage.
 
An icescraper really is the quickest and nearly most effective option one has... you can clear off every one of your car's windows in minutes. It really doesn't get much simpler.
 
Starthinker said:
Just let the car warm up and let the defroster work. If you are in a hurry, use an ice scraper. You wouldn't believe how many people I see driving around completely blind, I hope they don't kill too many people.
Click to expand...
No, you should never warm the engine up by idling it, you should always drive off immediately. Otherwise you will increase engine wear dramatically.
 
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