To think people can defrost their cars without running their engine all morning?

[shinysnowman]

I start work in a couple of hours. I have been awake since 5am, due to a steady flow of neighbours who have sat in their car with their engine running, one actually revving their engine constantly, waiting for their car to defrost. The first at 5am, each for a good 15 minutes each. It's been the same every day this week.

Don't people scrape their cars anymore? Is it wrong for me to be annoyed and think that they are being inconsiderate?

(Apologies to those with DC who are dragged up with them at this time!)

It seems we are all lying. But all us liars who have wiped the inside of the window and driven off only to find we can see again which is fairly terrifying when driving and for those around us will keep making sure our windscreen is actually clear before we drive off. And I'm not going to sodding apologise for that. Ffs.

And I have a cat and he’s never licked deicer run off - there isn’t any, you squirt a small amount so there’s no waste. How much are people spraying that it ends up all over the floor ?!

It mixes with the melted ice and then drips down.

I really would be grateful that I don't have to get up at 5.00am to defrost a car. That is soul destroying.

I can't be arsed to mess about with bags of water and hot water bottles. When I worked a night shift people would be doing all sorts of noisy things outside. It sucks but people have to go about their lives.

I hate being cold with a passion. I do not warm up easily either. I just can't bring myself to stand outside scraping ice off. I am sure my neighbours will disturb me when they have late night get togethers in the garden during the summer when I am trying to sleep. It is swings and roundabouts.

Ford had the patent for heated front screens for years, it’s only just started to creep into other manufacturers

This isn't true. Ford marketing hype at it's best. Heated windsceens have been fitted to cars since the 1960s. The Minis that won the 1964-67 Monte Carlo rallies had them. They have been optional on Land Rovers and Range Rovers for donkey's years. We have a 1972 Range Rover with one.

I just throw hot water on my windscreen. I don't know why others don't do this.

I've been doing it since I passed my test in 1990 - to cars old and new and have yet to crack a windscreen.

I just throw hot water on my windscreen. I don't know why others don't do this.

Because it's higher risk than not doing it?

I've been doing it since I passed my test in 1990 - to cars old and new and have yet to crack a windscreen.

That's great, it doesn't mean it's fail safe. It just means you have been lucky.

Science dictates it's not a good way to defrost your windscreen.

I just throw hot water on my windscreen. I don't know why others don't do this.

Because it's dangerous. If the ground temperature is still below freezing, all you're doing is creating an ice-rink under your car. Do it on your drive and the water runs off and onto the road.

The roads and pavements are bad enough without having to navigate an ice-rink from someone's car.

Ooh, one of the upsides of having an electric car! I can run the engine but no sound or fumes and my car is toasty warm by the time I get in it!

I just throw cold water on my windscreen

That works too

Seriously

Just cold tap water (it is still a lot warmer than ice, hence it melts)

Cold water people, 1 or 2 jugs and it is done

Yeah, you’re still risking ice forming on the pavement or road with cold water. I actually think this is less likely to happen if eg you live in a town in the south of England and you’re doing it in the morning, when the temperature is going to warm up - in many parts of the UK you aren’t likely to see the water freezing that quickly, though of course there are areas where it is a risk and I wouldn’t do it myself. However, it doesn’t stop the screen misting problem.

The Highway Code states: 'You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road'.

It’s also REALLY bad for the environment

Mine took 30 mins the other day. My blowers are faulty and awaiting repair. So takes ages. They only warm when generally moving or revving.
I spray the outside and also ended up spraying inside as some reason the inside froze badly too. Which isn't good to be close to the spray like that but was already running late.

Am I the only person who routinely forgets to defrost though?

I mean be running around of a morning like a blue arsed fly, stressing about being late, feeling momentarily proud of myself for only being 5-10 mins over my mandatory leave-the-house time, then swear under my breath when I see the frosty car.

I just throw cold water on my windscreen

It still freezes if the ground temperature is cold enough, though.

Warmish water in a bottle.
Pour on glass.
Turn windscreen heater on.

Drive away in under 2 mins

I have a 10 year old car, frost inside and out, in lucky if it's all defrosted in 15 mins!

Revving engines isn't on though.

Do people not put a cover over the roof & windows of the car at night? It would solve most of the issues people are having with the ice on the windows and is much more environmentally friendly than running engines, boiling kettles every morning and using random deicer chemicals.

I think you should be prepared for winter (it happens every year) and have something over the front windscreen at least. Or have a plan that does not involve using your car in such temperatures.

So this idea of warm water in a ziploc bag, wipe over the windows and it melts the ice ... Why has nobody designed a reusable microwave pouch that you can ping to warm up and then use to wipe over the ice? It would be more robust than a thin plastic bag but still very convenient. And it would be safer than a hot water bottle (as in, no pouring of boiling water). I bet there are gels you can use .... Ooooh, I bet those microwave hand warmer pouches would do it

"Do people not put a cover over the roof & windows of the car at night?"
Have never ever seen cars with full on covers, except in pictures.

It can be icy many days from November to March. Not using your car during that period is just utter madness. Do some people live in the same world as me, with jobs, kids etc? Or does everyone live in London and see a car as an optional extra?

"Why has nobody designed a reusable microwave pouch that you can ping to warm up"..they have....heat pads or warm oat pads.

Regarding the Highway Code already quoted
leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road
Surely running the engine in order to defrost/demist a car so that you can drive safely is not “unnecessary” though?

"Or have a plan that does not involve using your car in such temperatures."
You dont have or need a car, do you?

Or have a plan that does not involve using your car in such temperatures.

How exactly should my other half get to work for his night shifts at 3am?