Defrosting Car Windscreen/Windows - What do you do?

[anotheruser]

A blanket?
Just an old one works fine - trap it in the door trick and then pull it off and ready to go.

My old car, I used to sprays but you're right in that they leave chemical crap all over the screen.

Even older cars, lukewarm water or just cool (not cold) water - but you need a lot of that.

Problem is, I have to leave around 4:40am so leaving the car running isn't really an option for me.
But only owned the V40 for a few days so will be interesting to see how it performs with defrosting.

[TheCyclist]

Originally Posted by volvocat

I find VOC remote start from iphone works wonders (car stays locked and cannot be driven) - as long as I remember to set it soon enough before dashing out when I’m running late!
But I could just as easily forget to make time for the warm water / scraper method - great thing this forward planning...! 😳

I find the Volvo on call app works really well. I have used it to cool the car as well when it had been parked in 40 heat

[Jsayers]

For the front and rear windscreens, I use the heating elements. For the side windows, I have started to fill a freezer bag with hot water from the tap and then wipe the windows with it. It is hot enough to defrost the ice but will never crack the glass. Also you are not adding any other water onto the glass

[morwenna240]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

On my V60, with screenwash in the tank, when it's particularly cold, I can drive for an hour, and still not be getting anything out the washers. I'm not sure if you are suggesting water would outperform screenwash in sub zero temperatures ? I might give it a try.

I suspect though it's down to the model of the car and perhaps where the lines run/amount of engine heat given out. As far as I can tell the lines run from the tank in the front wing, along the wing somewhere and then along the back edge of the bonnet. None of which is particularly exposed to engine heat.

I might have to buy better screenwash.

Well, this is what i do. Never had prob, wash/wipe always works. No foamy stuff on windscreen, no pay for screenwash, no extra pollution. Try it once, c for yourselves. Voila!

[BobbyL1970]

Warm tap water.

Never had an issue with my windscreen disintegrating in 30 years of driving.

If it's got a crack or a chip. Potentially could be an issue I guess

Hopefully with my V40 when I collect it, it will be side windows only as it has heated front screen. 😁

[Welton]

Originally Posted by Jsayers

I have started to fill a freezer bag with hot water from the tap and then wipe the windows with it

Wow!

Honestly, I pour 60 deg C water straight onto the glass it's no issue at all, even the Twingo with its super-thin glass (weight saving) has no issues with getting hit with 60 deg's even when it's minus 6 ambient.

Check out this test:

+ YouTube Video

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by Welton

... even the Twingo with its super-thin glass (weight saving) has no issues with getting hit with 60 deg's even when it's minus 6 ambient.
...

As I understand it the thinner the glass the less likely it is to crack, the problem comes when one side of the glass is still super cold and the other side is super hot, the difference due to thermal expansion causes too much stress and - bang! Thin glass heats right through easily so no difference.
I don't recall actually knowing anyone personally that cracked a screen with hot water but have broken a few glasses and bottles washing up in hot water and rinsing the suds off with cold, those tended to be relatively thick bottles or glasses with thick bases as I recall.

[MGSheff]

I use an old plastic membership / points card to scrape off the frost. Keep the card in the door pocket.