Defrosting the car

[DustyLee123]

It really winds me up when people leave the engine running for ages, and windscreen wipers going full pelt, instead of just defrosting the car with water/scraper and going.

@Whattodonexts whether or not it makes sense to you doesn't change the fact.

It's kind of my business when people are pumping out their toxic fumes into my child's face and they're too lazy and stupid to give a shit

Just wondering @GinAndJuice99 if you've any suggestions about how to clear the inside of a windscreen without running the engine for at least a couple of minutes? People could, I suppose, just start driving and possibly run over your child because they have poor or no visibility. Please cure me of my laziness and stupidity. TIA.

I found that using a clean cloth and window cleaner spray on the inside of the windscreen helps when you need to demist. Its amazing how much grime gets on the inside of them.

Well having just read the relevant bit of the Highway Code that a pp helpfully posted the link to, I would say that de-icing isn't a good reason because you can use a different method to do the de-icing.

Also noise pollution is a real issue - nobody want their neighbour running their engine for 20 minutes every morning. Some people seem to still think their engines need warming up as well. Not sure modern cars have needed that for about 30 years...

What about clearing the windscreen is lazy or stupid? Lazy and stupid would be not bothering to clear your view and thinking driving with an obscured view is sensible.

I just can't picture it though.

Idea though- stick the sponge onto a stick or even a long wooden spoon or something to give you extra reach.

Why is your child's face up against an exhaust pipe?

Oh good tip, I will try that. My car(s) are both rubbish at demisting.

I have to switch my car on to activate the heated windscreens, obviously, and while they are very good, they do take a little time. It says in the manual not to scrape them. I agree a cover is a good idea although I can't reach to put one on (big car, small person). I bought my car in good faith when diesel was being promoted by the government as better than petrol, and while I try not to idle my car near a school, or even drive near any at that time of day unless absolutely necessary, I'm not going to tie myself in knots if I really need to de-ice, de-mist and go somewhere important. If this woman needs to get her car cleared so she can go to work, so be it.

Agree there's an issue leaving a car running with the keys in unattended though. I did once check this with my insurance. It should be attended.

Indeed. I could probably get one of our cars into our garage as it is a small car, but then where to put the bikes.

A car port would be good but they are so ugly.

I couldn't reach mine in my old SMax and I'm tall!

I had a pad on an extendible thing like a selfie stick.

I sometimes put a towel over the windscreen to avoid needing to de-ice, but that doesn't solve the demisting problem.

This.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat glad it's not just me!

This is the first time I've seen one!

Why would pouring water on your windscreen make it crack? What do you do when it rains? It only needs to be warmer than ice (i.e. be water).

It's either

1. sit in the car furiously wiping the inside of the windscreen with an e-cloth while it demists while the engine is running after deicing it
2. run the engine and the demister while you spray/scrape the car.

There is no third option of not running the engine.

Really? In the grand scheme of things it really doesn’t make a jot of difference compared to pollution from e.g going on holidays abroad which I’m willing to bet you do.

@DustyLee123 Do you live on my street?!
Today my neighbour came out the house at 6am turned his engine on left it running for 20 minutes, then drove to work 5 mins away. He could walk in less time than it took to warm his car up.

Last year same household, she came out the house turned her engine on. 5 mins later I left for work did a 15 mile commute in rush hour got to work and she still hadn't left the house.

The cracking issue is if the water and ice/ glass temperatures are too different it runs the risk of causing a crack. Mostly arises when people use boiled kettles but it is possible depending on the temperature of your kitchen water tap. The issue doesn't really arise in rain because the ambient glass temperature won't be very different to the rain drops, plus the actual volume of water and their small drop shape tends to mean the glass temperature doesn't change as suddenly.

Not been on holiday since pre covid.

I do this when I have to defrost the car, we leave at 8:15 and I'll just pop out at 810, pop the car on & the heater full blast and at 815 when we get in the windscreen is cleared and the car is warm and comfortable to be in. Maybe it is selfish, but I have poor circulation, a SEN child who despises being cold and will get so upset he makes himself physically sick when he's cold and a 10 year old who deserves to be warm in the car. It's 5 mins and it's when most people are getting ready for work/school/nursery etc.

If you live in an urban area with lots of neighbours then leaving your car ticking over for 15-20 mins at 6.30am while you have breakfast/get ready for work when many people might not be on the same timetable as you is a bit twatty
Well that's one of the disadvantages of living in an urban area. Not everyone's life are going to be in sync with their neighbours. I'm sure my neighbours get pissed off with me arriving home at 11.30pm and I hear their cars at 5.15 am but we just rub along as best we can.

My van is fairly old but my customers expect me to be on time. I try to be considerate by spraying de-icer on the windscreen the night before which cuts down on scraping, but If I don't let the engine run for a bit to warm up I've a high chance of breaking down (or causing an accident because I can't see through the misted-up window). Much as I'd love to stay in bed until I'm sure everyone around me is up and ready it just isn't possible if I'm going to pay the bills and support my DD at university. Sorry OP. If only you really were the most important person in the world eh?