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!)

YANBU. I go out and scrape mine (we don't use the spray because it's full of chemicals) and then wipe the inside/scrape the inside (yes, it's been that cold). I only start the engine when the DCs come out and then have to wait a few minutes because we have the most useless car ever when it comes to the inside not misting up - any tips for stopping it going from clear to opaque when driving would be much appreciated, I have to stop again to clear it.

Op, I find white noise very helpful for sleeping through disturbances. You can get specific white noise machines, apps for your phone, or there are videos on YouTube. I play an 8 hour recording of a waterfall every night, it really helps. Phone on Do Not Disturb, obvs. Might help you.

Stupid question... I don't have one of those proper windscreen covers but would a blanket or towel over the windscreen over night stop the ice? Realise I'd have to ensure it was bone dry first.

I've used an old sheet before now, it works well but then you have the hassle of getting a cold, soaking wet sheet dry because it defrosts and dumps water everywhere obviously so is a PITA.

Erm.... buy some ear plugs?

I’ve used a fleece blanket, they tend to dry quite quickly ime. Might need a spin cycle if it’s really soggy.

Didn’t help much with the inside though and that’s the main problem.

You may not like it, but sometimes its the only option. I have cloths to try to demist the inside but they don't really work and I am not setting off without decent visibility.

I need to run my engine when it's very cold because my breaks stick on, also I don't mind scraping the car but then have to wait until the inside clears.

On a public highway I think it's illegal to run the engine like this. I might be wrong. I think the Police refer to it as 'quitting'.

Apologies. I have not RTFT.

Wonderful things, windscreen covers. You can use them on the rear windscreen too if you have a 5-door car. You only need to scrap the side windows.

I know a lot of people are against deicers but they are the best way to remove ice on the inside of the screen. A tiny squirt on a chamois leather and done. Minimal impact on the environment.

Absolutely no need to rev or leave engines running.

DeathByPicolax so what exactly are you meant to do? Drive off without being able to see?

I appreciate it’s annoying but I’m afraid YABU. I scrape but need to run my engine for a few minutes, although less than 5 to clear the inside, despite a windscreen cover. I leave at 7.30 though, so slightly more acceptable. That said, I know it’s annoying as fuck when you’re disturbed, so I do have sympathy.

My car is an 05 plate. I can defrost it easily but if I drive off too soon its dangerous especially when low sun hits it. I do worry about the environment but I also need it for work. I'm a home help/cleaner. I leave the engine running for as little time as possible and I'm in it not inside with a cup of tea.

When I had my old car I bought a demisting cloth to see if I could get away faster in the morning because it took ages to demist the window. Well it bloody ruined the inside of the windscreen. It made it incredibly streaky so whenever I was in bright sunshine it was much more difficult to see, for ages afterwards. Also, the windscreen just steamed right back up again as soon as I set off

There is nothing scarier than driving off down the road and your windscreen steaming back up so you can’t see. Nah. I’ll be taking five mins (if that) to clear mine properly with the demister.

@ChardonnaysDistantCousin how do you think myself and others who work at places with no public transport access that of motorways can get to work?

I hate scraping my car as it means I have to get up 15 minutes earlier.

My fan works if I turn the ignition key half-way so the windscreen clears but the engine isn’t chugging away.

I find it necessary but not for 15 mins. Just the time of year I suppose

The fool that is revving their cold engine though... don't worry, we had a neighbor that did that, one day he was revving and the engine just fell out of the bottom of the car haha. It did put a smile on my face. Revving a cold engine will do it in eventually and is completely pointless so have hope one day his car will collapse and you won't have to hear the revving anymore

I am one of the odd people in my neighbourhood that puts my car in the garage. No ice.

Leaving the engine running and disappearing inside isn’t great is it? DH has a screen cover which works well and uses the plastic bag tip it doesn’t take long. He leaves at 6am and I don’t hear him.

Stupid question... I don't have one of those proper windscreen covers but would a blanket or towel over the windscreen over night stop the ice? Realise I'd have to ensure it was bone dry first.

I have a nylon one which covers the whole top half/all the glass of my car. It's brilliant (if a little sail-like in a breeze!). I hang it over a door in my house before I leave as it's all covered in ice. It does drip all over the floor but that dries out quick enough.

A big sheet of cardboard might be better than fabric though. Or even a bed sheet, as its lighter and faster drying than towelling.

Jug of tepid water.

I am one of the odd people in my neighbourhood that puts my car in the garage.

I miss the garage in my old place - was an old 1960s house so the garage was huge too! I am seriously considering building a car port structure in this one. Or buying a pop up one just for winter as my driveway is secluded and the frost is hardcore!

I run mine and most certainly go inside to have a cup of tea! No neighbours though!

You don't have to go inside! We watch anf wipe as it clears

I hang it over a door in my house before I leave as it's all covered in ice. It does drip all over the floor but that dries out quick enough

I just walk mine straight through the flat, it can't drip that quickly and chuck it in the bath.

A couple of PP have mentioned it - the zip lock plastic bag method - works like an absolute charm! It's much more efficient that spraying or scraping. Just fill the bag three quarters full of hot tap water, close and glide it along windscreen and windows. Melts ice in a flash, then I do a quick sponge wipe of the inside of windscreen and I'm away. I put the bag water on some potted little trees by the my front door so it doesn't go to waste.

Done it for the last few winters and I wouldn't go back to scraping

I usually put the engine on as well as using deicer and scraping the outside. The inside takes ages to clear (it's an old car)