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!)

I tried the hot water bottle last year. Cleared a tiny hole at the bottom of the windscreen. Was nice on my lap for the journey though

I go with the jug of tepid water and then squeegeeing the inside.

Fortunately this is a rare occurrence these days as I now have a local job I walk to.

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

I now have a tiny car which fits neatly in the garage, I love it, open garage door and off I go!

I take DH a cup of tea to bed if he whizzes out of bed and closes garage door after me - win win

He doesn't have to leave the house until 90 mins after me so it's not all bad for him.

Haven’t RTFT but suggest your neighbours all swap to hybrids or electric then no engine running problem...

My hybrid doesn’t seem to need to start the engine in the time it takes me to turn on and go back inside for dd and her nursery stuff.. oh and the keys are in my pocket not the ignition so the thieves won’t get far...

such temperatures. Because that's such extreme weather

Just a tip to those with older cars stating it takes ages to de-mist the windscreen, the seal of your windscreen may have failed/failing.

I have a 2010 car had the same problem, noticed during heavy rain water coming in, had windscreen re sealed, now de-mists in 2-3 mins instead of 10-15. Guy said excessive internal condensation is a sign the seal is on the way out.

It's been -5.5 in the morning here recently, I don't think putting cold water on the windscreen is a very clever idea either.

What is soul destroying is leaving work (early at 3.30pm) and having to scrape the car all over again before you can drive home. I don't envy folk on the nightshift as our car is usually refrozen by early evening and then they have the solid overnight frost to clear before they can go home.

I have heated front and back windows which i need the engine on for, but it is literally a minute or so and also use the cat litter in a cut up pair of tights trick which really does help with the condensation.
Next door scrapes his van first which I find wakes me up unlike my car when DH takes it on an early..

I am a light sleeper so am aware of the engine running and dont sit any longer than necessary, so I do find those who leave it idling whilst they nip back in to eat breakfast/ have a cuppa rude

TheHodgeoftheHedge I bet he makes time to sleep for five hours? If he gave that time up he could walk to work.

Mine takes about 5 minutes, if I turn the engine on and scrape at the same time. I don't leave it but it's still making some noise. Saying that, I have never woken up from engine noise, even when living by a main road with a bedroom at the front of the house a few metres from the road.

Unfortunately you have to warm up your car before driving in icy conditions. No way around it.

Earplugs would solve your problem OP.

This really pisses me off.

So annoying.

My other hate is when I'm at the school run at pick up and some twat pulls up to me in the next car whilst waiting till it's time
to collect the children and they have music pumping and a running engine.

It was so peaceful before they rocked up.

I'm like oh please do fuck off

Has anyone mentioned the dehumidifiers for inside the car yet? Total game changer, my car hardly mists up at all inside anymore. Just put in the microwave every so often to dry out.
www.amazon.co.uk/Pingi-LV-A300-Dehumidifier-Car-Home/dp/B00I3VKBJS?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
And a jug of warm water sorts the outside, less than a litre does the whole car.

the cat litter in a cut up pair of tights trick ah ,now we're getting down to the good stuff !

More details please @MogHog ,do you leave a sausage type leg of tights filled with cat litter on the dash ? Overnight ?

Do you take it in and leave somewhere to dry out ?

It's not the outside that's the problem, that can be scraped.

The inside however is a nightmare. Wipe it down, drive off and 30 seconds later I can't see. It's re misted or there's so many streaks bouncing off the sun I'm blinded. My car is a shit old banger but I can't afford anything better. I don't leave it running for ages, 5 mins tops but I have no other option.

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

Well tomorrow I have a 24 mile commute for my first appointment, then 24 miles back. I suppose I could walk the 7 hours or so there and back?

So if it freezes tonight I shall be turning on my engine to get the car all warm and defrosted before I leave. If it bothers my neighbours they can get some ear plugs to put in while they are under their warm duvet.

Takes me 5 mins and a fair few squirts of de-icer. You don’t need your engine running all morning drives me mad

YANBU 15 minutes of idling engine is annoying and unecessary. Never understand why people faff about using scrapers and de-icer. A jug of barely tepid water on front windscreen then one on the back will clear the ice and won't crack your windscreens. Don't crank the heating onto max right away and open the front windows a couple of mms for the first few minutes you're in the car and the windows shouldn't excessively mist up.

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.

This is one of the most Batshit comments on here.

It's probably haggis sized so not a huge thing, normally left in the centre console or on the floor. Left in the car constantly and change it every couple of week or when I notice it's not working as good as it was.

I did buy a proper one the other year but find this works just as good and as we use catsan for the cats it's no extra expense as I just lob it in the litter tray when I change it as it isn't wet.
Apparently it works as well in socks but not tried that yet

I'm a very lucky girl I have a button to press whilst inside the house. Go out 10 mins later screen defrosted and heating on inside

I have an electric car. It automatically warms up and defrost 15mins before I get in it. Or I can activate it on an app on my phone.
If I forget to set it? Then an ice scraper and a chamois for the inside.

You don’t need your engine running all morning drives me mad

No one is letting their engine run all morning.

A jug of barely tepid water on front windscreen then one on the back will clear the ice and won't crack your windscreens. Don't crank the heating onto max right away and open the front windows a couple of mms for the first few minutes you're in the car and the windows shouldn't excessively mist up.

It is much easier to turn the engine on and get into a warm car instead of faffing around with water, opening the front windows and getting cold etc.

Plus, water is not really a safe option for the reasons already posted.

Warm tap water from a jug.
Jump in, shut doors quickly and put fan on hot as soon as you turn the engine in.
Don't open the windows or the inside will fog up.
Gave up scraping windscreens years ago.

And zero noise / engine not started

“ Don't crank the heating onto max right away and open the front windows a couple of mms for the first few minutes you're in the car and the windows shouldn't excessively mist up.”

“ Jump in, shut doors quickly and put fan on hot as soon as you turn the engine in.
Don't open the windows or the inside will fog up.”

Everyone’s an expert, eh