De-icer

[stealthwolf]

Given that my old fezza was, well, old and mostly parked outdoors, I had to use de-icer spray a fair bit during winter. But the ED30 is parked in the garage at home pretty much all the time.

Left it out tonight because I wasn't sure whether I'd need to pop to the supermarket to buy a few things for supper (decided against it) and went to park the car. Ice all over the windows.

Parked the car anyway despite the front window frozen over because all I had to do was open the garage door and reverse in a straight line. But if the car was out on the street, or frozen overnight because of night-shifts, what's the best thing to do?

I worry about scrapers causing damage, plus there's a lot of effort involved, which is crap in this weather. Is there a safe de-icer spray I can use that won't damage the paintwork/rubber etc?

[MongyUk]

Not sure I use my driving licence!! bends to the screen quite well!! Seriously though I didnt know that de-icer damages rubber etc??!

[Greeners]

A decent scraper shouldn't damage your car stealth, and by the time youv'e finished scraping you'll be warm  Bonus!

I never have and never will spray de-icer on my car.

[MongyUk]

why is this though??  am I missing something? or is it like putting a brolly up indoors??

[Greeners]

Those chemicals can not be good for a well cared for and well waxed piece of paintwork. It can't do the rubbers and plastic much good either 

[neg]

Its alright saying that but when the Mrs just wants to get to work and there is ice on the screen...

I cant see de-icer being that bad, afterall its what its designed for although I would advise trying to keep it off any paint work.

[dubsport]

De-icer will not harm your paintwork or rubbers, the likes of Autoglym would not produce a product that would do that, if our really worried then just spray it on the glass and try not to let it touch paint or rubbers

[stealthwolf]

So why, on the de-icer can, does it tell you to wipe it off paintwork immediately?

[winrya]

When parked at home I use slightly warm water to de ice the car in a watering can and it works a treat. When out and about I find re concentrate de icer sprays are far better than aerosols. I only use it in the windscreen though, don't want it running down the panels. I use a rubber scraper for the side windows as all gti's up until 07 have blue window tints which are really soft and will scratch with a scraper. It even states in the manual do not use one!

[Lynsey]

I never go near mine with de-icer ever!  I just use a trusty scraper on mine, no cheap naff one either so no fear of nasty scratches!

Just jump in and crank the heaters onto full, after a few mins it starts creeping through to defrost, and that's with a diesel!!. 

Even being female and feeble, I never seem to have any major issues - even when it was -7.5 the other morning 

[Andy]

i don't use  de-icer or a scraper...i just start the car put the heater on full,bout 5 min later the windscreen is clear

[Greeners]

So why, on the de-icer can, does it tell you to wipe it off paintwork immediately?

At the end of the day it contains chemicals, and that can't be good if it's left on paintwork or rubbers! Get scraping, it's better for the environment, it's exercise and it will warm you up 

[JPC]

i never use de-icer at all to be honest. i just give it a quick scrape, put the heaters on, and the wipers and im done in 3 mins

[stealthwolf]

Anyone recommend a decent scraper? Or is halfrauds best?

[JPC]

credit card for me! lol