on ways and means of de-icing a windscreen...

[DrSquirrel]

I put a small fan heater in the car, run a cable into the house. Wake up, turn it on for 10 minutes.


I've also used Ford heated screens - and like mentioned above, it really is distracting.


Btw I have put hot water on a windscreen before, quite a few times really - I have also never heard of someone actually shattering their screen doing this (and loads of people do this) the refreezing isn't a problem if you get your wipers going and have decent (highly concentrated) washer fluid... although when wipers freeze solid they don't tend to form to the windscreen fully

 

[krushavik]

The old fashioned scaper, good exercise saves going to the gym.

 

[Globalti]

Yep... my neighbour must love the sound, scrape scrape scrape at 7.15 in the morning. About a week ago even scraping wouldn't shift the ice so I did resort to pouring tepid water over the windows. The next car will have a heated windscreen, definitely.

 

[asterix]

Was it French wine that was found to have de-icer in it? (not ALL French wine, clearly

)

So any left over mulled-wine would probably do the trick

Austrian. French wines are mostly dry except for Banyuls from near Cerbere, for example.

 

[asterix]

I'm going by bike.

 

[accountantpete]

Lukewarm water for me - although I did hear a scientist once claim that cold water was best at clearing the ice.

 

[mickle]

Hot water - works every time.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Likewarm water for me - although I did hear a scientist once claim that cold water was best at clearing the ice.

As long as its warmer than the ice it should melt the ice.

Warmer will clear it faster - though people tend to say hot water freezes faster but without looking into it more I think it sounds stupid. (might be to do with boiled water having less contaniments in it or something?)

 

[accountantpete]

As long as its warmer than the ice it should melt the ice.

Warmer will clear it faster - though people tend to say hot water freezes faster but without looking into it more I think it sounds stupid. (might be to do with boiled water having less contaniments in it or something?)

Googled this up which may be relevent

Mpemba effect

 

[Wobbly John]

Warm water here - it has the advantage that it warms the screen and reduces the chance of it misting up.

I have a gravel drive so ice patches where the car has been de-iced are only likely in prolonged freezes.


Now...


... what's the best way to clear ice off the bike's saddle?

 

[DrSquirrel]

... what's the best way to clear ice off the bike's saddle?

Warm bum.

 

[ventoux50]

what would happen if you poured table salt over the windscreen ?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Waz on it

 

[Amanda P]

Funny you should say that, 3bikes. When I worked in Finland a few years ago, I discovered that the standard-issue brand of aerosol de-icer there is called Super Piss.

I've never been sure if that's onomatopoeic, or if it's called that because the can saves you the trouble of doing it yourself.

In any case, if the windscreen's frozen, the bonnet's usually pretty icy too, and risky to stand on, I would have thought.

 

[accountantpete]

Waz on it

I used to be able to as a kid - but sadly as you get older the pleasures of peeing 4' into the air are denied to you.