How to keep an overview
These days, lamppost parkers often have to clear their car windows of ice and snow. Some drivers are reaching deep into their bag of tricks. However, some ideas do more harm than good.
Anyone who is surprised by frozen and snow-covered windows after a frosty night is usually looking for a quick solution to free them from ice. There are several methods to do this. However, some of them are only recommended to a limited extent, and one is definitely not recommended.
Prevention
Of course, it is best to prevent ice from forming on the windows in the first place. For example, sticking a film or cardboard under the windshield wipers in the evening will significantly reduce the formation of ice on the vehicle windows. There are even special window covers available as accessories, which are easier to attach with the help of magnets, fastening loops and winglets for clamping in the doors. Some covers also extend over the wing mirrors and front side windows. If the covered areas are uncovered the next morning, they are usually free of ice.
Scraping
However, if there is ice on the windows, the classic method is to remove it mechanically. However, you should never misuse the windshield wipers for this. The soft rubber of the wipers has little effect on the ice, but the rubber lips are damaged, which greatly impairs the cleaning properties of the wiper blades. Instead, it is better to use an ice scraper designed for this purpose. These parts are inexpensive and can be found in the glove compartment or side door of every car. However, it can be a bit of a struggle to work on all the windows of a car with fingers that are already clammy after just a few seconds, especially with thicker layers of ice.
Heated ice scrapers are sometimes offered on the market as an alternative, but they generally do not get warm enough to achieve a quick effect. More promising are battery-powered ice scrapers, which use a motor drive to rotate plastic blades that tackle the layer of ice quickly and effortlessly. In general, however, removing ice with a scraper is not a perfect solution, because if there are sand or dust particles under the frozen layer, these will cause small scratches in the glass when scraping it free, which will impair visibility when the sun is low or in the headlights of oncoming cars.
Liquids
It is gentler to remove ice with the help of liquids. Hot water, which you simply pour over the windows, promises to help quickly. However, glass can react very sensitively to sudden large temperature differences. In the worst case, the window can crack or even burst. The hot water method is therefore an absolute no-go. A more effective alternative is liquid window de-icer, which is available for a reasonable price. They are available in spray bottles for easy application, after which the ice should thaw quickly, and more stubborn residues are also easier to remove. However, liquid de-icers quickly reach their limits with thicker layers of ice.
Heat
Another alternative is to generate heat inside the vehicle. However, you should definitely refrain from warming up the engine while the car is stationary. The road traffic regulations stipulate that unnecessary noise and avoidable exhaust emissions are prohibited when using vehicles. Users of electric cars have an advantage here, as they can legally heat up the interior with on-board air conditioning technology without engine noise and exhaust fumes before setting off. However, this can result in a significant loss of range, which should be taken into account beforehand.
A simple hot water bottle on the dashboard, placed there either half an hour before setting off or overnight in moderately sub-zero temperatures, can also ensure clear windows. The radiated heat thaws ice or prevents it from forming in the first place. It is even easier to warm up interiors with fan heaters when the vehicle is stationary. However, you should only use products that are specifically designed for this application. Fan heaters for domestic use can cause fires in cars.
A particularly good and unfortunately also very expensive solution is to install a parking heater. Depending on the model, parking heaters are controlled by a timer in the vehicle or by radio remote control. New models can also be activated online via a smartphone or the corresponding app. Provided the timing is right, this solution allows drivers to get into an ice-free and comfortably warm car in the morning. However, the technology usually requires a four-figure investment.
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- Despite advising against using hot water due to potential damage to the windows, some car drivers resort to this method in their desperation to clear ice, as they believe it can quickly dissolve the frozen layers.
- In extreme cold weather, some consumers turn to heat-generating devices such as parking heaters to keep their vehicles' interiors warm, thereby ensuring that the car driver does not have to deal with road traffic obstacles caused by ice on their windows.
- After a snowy night, some road traffic advisors recommend using specialized ice scrapers designed for car windows to avoid damaging the wipers or causing small scratches on the glass that may impair visibility during low sunlight or oncoming headlights.
Source: www.ntv.de
