De-icer spray... yes or no?

[rayaans]

3 hours ago, GrahamG said:

5 litres of IPA on Amazon [inc delivery] on its way will make a lot of cheap de icer and is so useful for de greasing and cleaning in the workshop.

Thanks to Rayaans for the tip.

Use 70% IPA mixed 2:1 with water in a spray bottle.  Works just as well as any de icer

[mikeyv]

Warm water for me too, environmentally friendly, doesn't harm paint or rubber, warms the screen, so no misting inside and, it's free.

I was always afraid of cracking the screen, but in the 80s, a mate of mine had contracts with main dealers, in Harrogate Yorkshire, dewaxing new cars on delivery.

He used an industrial strength steam cleaner, and voiced concerns about using it on very cold Yorkshire winter mornings, the dealers told him to carry on, and they'd sort any breakages.

He did hundreds of vehicles without a problem, and I've been using warm water ever since.

[gdh300]

2 minutes ago, mikeyv said:

Warm water for me too, environmentally friendly, doesn't harm paint or rubber, warms the screen, so no misting inside and, it's free.

An old Comfort bottle of tepid water for me each time, for exactly the same reasons as Michael. Been doing it for years with several cars, and so far no exploding windscreens.

[NemesisUK]

Any issues with it (screen or residual water) refreezing?

Do you use the warm water on side and rear screen?

[mikeyv]

1 minute ago, NemesisUK said:

Any issues with it (screen or residual water) refreezing?

Do you use the warm water on side and rear screen?

Wipers on to clear water, as soon as ice has thawed, rear screen as well, if fitted.

Side windows I just pour it on, but I suppose you could squeegee them dry if required.

[DanD]

The simplest solutions obviously remain often the best!

[PCM]

Yes, Prestone de-icer 

[royoftherovers]

59 minutes ago, DanD said:

The simplest solutions obviously remain often the best!

I think that you are right Dan, although my experience shows me that my solutions although simple in retrospect were not blindingly obvious to me !!

[gdh300]

18 hours ago, NemesisUK said:

Any issues with it (screen or residual water) refreezing?

Wipers on straight away and there's no problem. It's a real boon warming the windscreen this way, helping the vents clear any misting on the inside as well.

Only problem I have is the little river of frozen water than sometimes appears on my drive afterwards!

[sorcerer]

4 minutes ago, gdh300 said:

Only problem I have is the little river of frozen water than sometimes appears on my drive afterwards!

1

Exactly, that's why I never use water - if my wife were to slip on the ice formed from the puddles I'd never hear the last of it. Far easier and safer to use de-icer.