Tips on how to de-ice your vehicle
If, like me, you woke up this morning to a thoroughly frosted icy car and struggled to de-ice the windscreen, then these simple yet effective tidbits of advice I found on the internet may help us avoid the same problem come tomorrow morning.
First of all, did you now that the law states all vehicle windows and mirrors must be clear and driving while only being able to view the road through a small de-misted hole in the windscreen can result in a fine of £1,000 for driving with restricted vision?
The most common way a majority of us usually attempt to de frost our vehicles is to turn on the engine and set our defrosters on while we go back inside to eat our breakfast, however, you might think it’s easier on your car to let it sit and gently warm up, doing so is a bad idea for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it does indeed waste fuel, henceforth, wastes our money. Then there is the environmental costs, it can also be a traffic offence as well, and not to mention the risk of a chancer deciding to drive off in your van if left unattended which may lead to a rejected claim for theft. Most of the advice I found does say that running the engine for a few minutes (5-10) while you clear your windscreen with an ice scrapper is OK.
You may already own an ice scrapper, but if not, it is worth investing the few pounds to buy one. Contrary to some belief, it is not a good idea to use your maxed out credit card or a never listened to music CD, as these items can scratch or damage your windscreen. Pouring hot water over is another trick we sometimes use, but drastic changes in temperature can cause the windshield to crack. So what can you do to de-ice your vehicle?
You can try these steps if your vehicle is frosted over:
1. Brush any lumps of ice off the windscreen, mirrors and windows
2. Spray de-icing fluid onto the windscreen. Remember not to use hot water
3. Use an ice scraper to scrape all the frost from your windscreen
4. Turn on your engine and switch the defroster to the highest setting for only a few minutes while you are with the vehicle
5. Keep your windscreen wipers switched off before most of the ice has thawed; otherwise rubber from the wipers can stick to the ice, causing them to break
6. If your locks are frozen, you can use de-icing fluid or if you run out, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content
If you run out of de-icer spray, you can use a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar as an alternative.
There are several good videos on YouTube showing various ways to de-ice your vehicle. Just be careful to avoid those that are on there for entertainment purposes only.
First of all, did you now that the law states all vehicle windows and mirrors must be clear and driving while only being able to view the road through a small de-misted hole in the windscreen can result in a fine of £1,000 for driving with restricted vision?
The most common way a majority of us usually attempt to de frost our vehicles is to turn on the engine and set our defrosters on while we go back inside to eat our breakfast, however, you might think it’s easier on your car to let it sit and gently warm up, doing so is a bad idea for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it does indeed waste fuel, henceforth, wastes our money. Then there is the environmental costs, it can also be a traffic offence as well, and not to mention the risk of a chancer deciding to drive off in your van if left unattended which may lead to a rejected claim for theft. Most of the advice I found does say that running the engine for a few minutes (5-10) while you clear your windscreen with an ice scrapper is OK.
You may already own an ice scrapper, but if not, it is worth investing the few pounds to buy one. Contrary to some belief, it is not a good idea to use your maxed out credit card or a never listened to music CD, as these items can scratch or damage your windscreen. Pouring hot water over is another trick we sometimes use, but drastic changes in temperature can cause the windshield to crack. So what can you do to de-ice your vehicle?
You can try these steps if your vehicle is frosted over:
1. Brush any lumps of ice off the windscreen, mirrors and windows
2. Spray de-icing fluid onto the windscreen. Remember not to use hot water
3. Use an ice scraper to scrape all the frost from your windscreen
4. Turn on your engine and switch the defroster to the highest setting for only a few minutes while you are with the vehicle
5. Keep your windscreen wipers switched off before most of the ice has thawed; otherwise rubber from the wipers can stick to the ice, causing them to break
6. If your locks are frozen, you can use de-icing fluid or if you run out, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content
If you run out of de-icer spray, you can use a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar as an alternative.
There are several good videos on YouTube showing various ways to de-ice your vehicle. Just be careful to avoid those that are on there for entertainment purposes only.
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