Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Has anyone ever cracked a frozen windscreen

79 replies

mummybongo · 02/12/2023 07:31

Has anyone ever cracked their frozen windscreen by pouring warm water on it to de-ice it rather than using spray de-icer or scraping?

Just wondering how likely it is to happen? Hmm

OP posts:
usernother · 02/12/2023 07:33

I've used lukewarm water on frozen windscreens for many years with no problems.

ExpensiveDecorations · 02/12/2023 07:34

I either cover mine with a big foil thing or use de-icer to try and avoid this but mine has cracked this week, didn't see it go but I had used de-icer that morning.

LubaLuca · 02/12/2023 07:35

Yes, on a Metro in about 1995. Lesson learned.

YourNameGoesHere · 02/12/2023 07:36

Two neighbours have since we moved in a couple of years ago. Both using water poured directly from the kettle.

JenniferJupiterVenusandMars · 02/12/2023 07:37

YourNameGoesHere · 02/12/2023 07:36

Two neighbours have since we moved in a couple of years ago. Both using water poured directly from the kettle.

My neighbour’s done this too 🙄

Naughtytomcat · 02/12/2023 07:38

Yes, first year I had a car in 1994. Hot water from a tap, cracked right across the bottom.

Reallybadidea · 02/12/2023 07:40

Google tells me it was a bigger issue before cars windscreens were laminated. Obviously boiling water is a bad idea but I've been using warm water for years with no issues.

Iateallllllthepies · 02/12/2023 07:40

My ex h did.

He used to see me pouring water from a kettle on to my windscreen. Only, I just used the kettle as a vessel for warmish water from the tap as I didn’t have a big jug.

He boiled the kettle and chucked it straight on. Obviously, it was entirely my fault.

Original poster
mummybongo · 02/12/2023 07:48

To be honest I've also used lukewarm water for years without any issues but now my daughter is driving it struck me that I might be teaching her a very bad habit! I just wondered how often it actually happened - but seemingly more than I thought.

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 02/12/2023 08:30

Yep my DH last year!!!

One big crack right across, we were selling the car at the time too 🤦🏽‍♀️😂

FrangipaniBlue · 02/12/2023 08:31

It wasn't boiling either, it was just warm water from the tap but I think he got a bit over zealous

Bogeyes · 02/12/2023 08:32

Yes I've seen it happen.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 02/12/2023 08:38

Not once, in 35 years of driving. And am not aware of anyone who has. Clearly using boiling water from a kettle is asking for trouble, but hot water from the tap is fine, especially as it’s runs cold for the first few seconds so any jug filled that way is luke warm to warm. More of an issue when the water freezes on the ground and makes is slippery, but on your own drive that’s not a problem, especially if you have gravel :)

But the advent of plug in hybrids and then EVs means the bliss of a pre-warmed and defrosted car!

Baffledandalarmed · 02/12/2023 08:39

YourNameGoesHere · 02/12/2023 07:36

Two neighbours have since we moved in a couple of years ago. Both using water poured directly from the kettle.

Yep. Watched someone do it the other day as I was de-icing my own car. Third time in about a year.

Not sure why people don’t just use a de-icer, turn up the AC and wait it out. Only takes a few minutes

ShowOfHands · 02/12/2023 08:46

Baffledandalarmed · 02/12/2023 08:39

Yep. Watched someone do it the other day as I was de-icing my own car. Third time in about a year.

Not sure why people don’t just use a de-icer, turn up the AC and wait it out. Only takes a few minutes

Show quote history

Because I prefer not to put ammonia, butane, propane, ethanediol, ethanol and isopropanol into the atmosphere when I can use water and a scraper. I genuinely don't mean to sound holier than thou, but I won't use chemicals when I don't have to. Ditto weeding rather than weedkiller, scrubbing rather than bleach etc. Plus, my car is old and my blowers take at least ten minutes to warm up. I'd be waiting forever.

Anyway, the woman who used to live here before we did apparently did it 3 times. My opposite neighbour ran over the first time he saw me with a kettle and a frozen car. I simply use the kettle to carry the cold/vaguely approaching lukewarm water.

Malarandras · 02/12/2023 08:48

Buy a windscreen cover, they work. My car windscreen is ice free every morning. Why everyone doesn’t do this, and why I didn’t do it much sooner, is completely beyond me!

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 02/12/2023 08:49

I've been wondering about this too! I tend to just top up wity cold water the remaining hot water in my kettle from making my cup of tea, until it's tepid and use that. No problems so far.

HobnobbingAboutHobnobs · 02/12/2023 08:49

I do it every icy morning and have never had an issue. Water from the tap, not boiling.

WillowTit · 02/12/2023 08:52

i do find the hot water worrying that it can make the ground slippery
my car doesnt even heat up until i have been driving for 10 minutes!

Autumnleavesarefallingdownagain · 02/12/2023 08:57

I just use water from the cold tap and it works fine. I don’t think it even needs to be lukewarm tbh

Reallybadidea · 02/12/2023 08:58

I like doing it because it also demists the inside of the windscreen. Yes I do have a cloth in the car but otherwise I have to keep wiping it for the first 5 minutes (rubbish car heater).

Gravel driveway so no slippiness.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 02/12/2023 08:58

Warm water out of the tap won't crack the screen.
Boiling water might if it find a weakness that is already there.

Wolfcub · 02/12/2023 09:10

Yes on New Year's Eve one year when I had a long drive to go on. Lesson learned as finding a glass fitter in nye is a pita

EBearhug · 02/12/2023 09:16

I just scrape it, which also cleans off some of the grime from the bits the wipers don't reach.

BurbageBrook · 02/12/2023 09:16

No. I use warm water out of the tap, not boiling water. Never had a problem in 10 years of doing it this way. Like a PP I prefer to avoid using chemicals if I can.