MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: richtung on November 02, 2016, 07:55:38 am

Title: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: richtung on November 02, 2016, 07:55:38 am
Found myself scraping the ice off the car windows this morning - couldn't find the de-icer - mega fail. Need to stock up on de-icer this weekend.

Just wanted what other members' de-icer of choice and why?

I know some people will suggest water but with a newborn and a wife who is unsteady on her feet at the best of times, cant risk her slipping on the frozen water on the driveway.

Suggestions / recommendations please!

Cheers

Rich
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: AJP on November 02, 2016, 02:55:20 pm
Anything in a spray can rather than trigger. My fingers tend to seize up squeezing a trigger when it's really cold!

Don't be tempted to use warm water, it can crack the screen due to the sudden change in temperature.

I used some stuff a few years ago that you spray on the night before and it prevents any water freezing. It did work but I was left with this horrible gelatinous mess on the screen after a frost.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Juliand on November 02, 2016, 03:23:01 pm
A good robust scraper for me. Car always in the garage though, ha ha. Only joking....Scraper always works best for me - hard side to get the worst off, then the rubber squeegie bit to finish. Doesn't freeze over again then.

Has it really been that cold yet?
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: bonelorry on November 02, 2016, 04:45:28 pm
I wont use De-Icer on my car, It will strip off any wax if it comes in contact with the paintwork.

Due to the high acidity of chemicals used in De-Icer the only real way to get around it is to thoroughly rinse off any remaining product left on the paintwork but this is easier said than done. 

I avoid using Plastic Ice Scrapers too as these can easily cause scratches on the Glass or Plastic Headlamps, Although a Rubber Squeegee type is ideal for removing any partially De-Frosted Ice or Frost rather than using the Wipers on the car.

I usually use cold Water and keep a 2L bottle of Water in the car at all time, Pour it on the screen with the car running and wait a few moments. Does the job and is harmless.

Interesting thread on DW about defrosting Do's and Dont's...

I would like to say common sense dictates to avoid using boiling water; however, some people are daft enough to pour this straight onto a frozen window. So I would like to take the opportunity to advise you not to use boiling water to defrost a car window

Cold water straight from the tap is sufficient for de-icing your car windows. So much so, that this is all I have used for years. You may be wondering why cold water and not luke warm water? Well the answer is simple, hot water freezes quicker than cold water due to the Mpmeba effect. What you also need to think is that any water is warmer than ice, so it’ll be enough to melt the frozen ice (water) on your car.

After rinsing your windows and lights with water, use the squeegee on your ice scraper to remove any standing water (or your wipers for the windscreen). This will prevent any possible re-freezing of any water left on the windows.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: shail on November 02, 2016, 10:07:03 pm
I haven't used deicer in a few years - I just switch the car on, heaters on full + recirc and just use an old credit card. 
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: TAPPY on November 02, 2016, 10:19:21 pm
I haven't used deicer in a few years - I just switch the car on, heaters on full + recirc and just use an old credit card. 

I do the same but with a scraper not a credit card haha. I hate de-icer it if only ever found it makes the windscreen smeary and hazy.

My missus has a good technique... put the blower on until a small amount of ice is melted then put the wipers on full and then wonders why she can't see properly once it rains as she's mullered them  :stupid:
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: baka on November 02, 2016, 11:15:08 pm


I just run the hot tap into a crappy old 2 litre jug I've had for years.

Which I chuck over all the glass and mirrors.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: dan930 on November 03, 2016, 12:47:56 am
I just turn up the heaters to max & wait
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Octoparrot on November 03, 2016, 06:53:42 pm


I just run the hot tap into a crappy old 2 litre jug I've had for years.

Which I chuck over all the glass and mirrors.

Same here  :smiley: and then drive off while all the neighbours are busy scraping away. :happy2:
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: r5gtt on November 09, 2016, 04:52:12 pm
GSF have a trigger one which is very penetrative but in yellow liquid  :signLOL: I've used it and it works well.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: 4ndy on November 09, 2016, 05:02:09 pm
warm water.. If its really bad I put a heater in the boot for 1/2hr
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: r5gtt on November 09, 2016, 10:10:01 pm
warm water.. If its really bad I put a heater in the boot for 1/2hr
do you live in the shetlands ??
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: B19Homer on November 28, 2016, 03:49:25 pm
good old scraper does the job
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: r5gtt on November 28, 2016, 10:38:39 pm
Too much of a hassle to scrape it these days as people aren't getting any younger  :indifferent:
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: gulfstream11 on December 01, 2016, 12:32:12 pm
Turn on and wait. Stand outside,the scrotes are watching.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Dan_FR on December 01, 2016, 02:36:28 pm
Scraper for me, bought one with a mitt attached. Only takes a minute or two to get the worst of it off. My Methanol mix in the windscreen washer bottle clears the rest of it  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: prp74 on December 01, 2016, 06:14:08 pm
I use of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ICEPLANE-Twin-Bladed-Car-Scraper/dp/B005U3EK7G
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: stealthwolf on December 05, 2016, 09:49:22 am
Cold tap water. Two litres is enough to do the windscreen twice and the front windows. I've long avoided scrapers and de-icers due to risk of damage to LSP/paintwork/glass.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Paradox1 on December 05, 2016, 10:07:17 am
Heater on full blast and cold tap water for me.
I usually keep some in the car but sometimes it freezes overnight lol

I think  remote start would be ideal this time of the year
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: bradh on December 10, 2016, 07:42:11 pm
just scrape them but if i need to use anything i would only use this stuff dont remove wax off cars or ruin the window rubbers

https://www.autoglym.com/de-icer
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Andy on December 10, 2016, 08:59:03 pm
never use it--only like warm water or sit in the car with the heater on
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Horatio on December 12, 2016, 01:03:23 am
Rain-X on side and rear windows, windscreen cover on the front. VW screen wash diluted 50% makes excellent deicer.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: richtung on January 24, 2017, 07:50:25 am
just to update this thread.

I forked out for an Swedish Ice Scraper after reading many positive reviews. What a fantastic piece of kit! Clears the windows in no time!
I got mine from Amazon for £13 (out of stock on ebay at the time.)

Back in stock on ebay for £12 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360813827061 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360813827061)

Rich
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: andyR43 on January 24, 2017, 08:27:05 am
I just press the heated windscreen button in my Transit Sport then 60 seconds later I drive off!!  :P
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: bad devotions on January 24, 2017, 09:56:38 am
i use a windshield cover on mine.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/car-covers-tarpaulins/halfords-all-weather-windscreen-shield

no scraping or messing with water at all. just take it off and away i go.
Title: Re: Your de-icer of choice
Post by: Boosht on March 08, 2017, 07:18:26 pm
I bought the spray in a can, waste of time, it turndd the hard ice ibto a semi slush with hard uneven ice undsrneath, just got de icer spray when trying to shift the hard under ice so to speak..

Just use a good scraper now in a wRm mitt, job done