Best way to defrost my windscreen

​Overnight temperatures plummet at this time of year, with frosty mornings and icy windscreens. It seems that everyone has a different way of going about defrosting a windscreen, but did you know that doing it the wrong way could damage your car? Or even risk it being stolen?

Here are our simple steps to help clear your windscreen quickly and safely.

1. Check your wipers


• First make sure your wipers aren’t on before you switch on your engine. If they are frozen to the glass, you risk damage to the wiper motor or the rubber could tear off if they start wiping!
  

2. Switch on the engine

• Start the engine and turn on the warm air blower, making sure it is directed towards the windscreen.
  
• Switch on the rear windscreen heater and heated mirrors, if you have them.
  
• Turn on the air-conditioning! It’s not just for summer – it will help to remove moisture from the air to stop the windows from misting up.
  
• Use a lint-free absorbent cloth, or chamois sponge to wipe misted-up windows. Do not use your hands– you’ll leave greasy smears.
  
• Stay with your car the whole time while the engine’s running.
  

3. Scrape while you wait

• Use a scraper and de-icer on the outside of your car windows, while you wait for the inside to warm up.
  

4. Check for the all-clear

• Don’t drive off until all of the glass is completely clear and you have a perfect field of vision.

Keep your car safe from opportunist thieves

Research by the AA showed that 40% of drivers leave their engines running to clear icy windscreens before they drive off.*

While it is tempting to leave the car running on to defrost while you wait in the warmth of the house, it’s not worth it. Opportunist thieves take advantage of frosty mornings, looking out for defrosting cars that have been left unattended with the engine on.

You won’t be covered by your car insurance if your car’s stolen because you left your keys in it unattended, so be warned; to keep your car safe, wrap up warm and stay with it the whole time. If you need to go back indoors, switch off and lock the car.

Don’t use hot water!

Using hot water on an iced-over car carries huge risk of damaging your windscreen. Glass expands quickly when hot water touches it, but can contract quickly too as it cools down in the cold air which can cause the glass crack as it flexes – especially if it has any small chips or cracks already.

On very cold days, even boiling water can turn to ice making the the whole job even more difficult. Worse still, it can build up on the wipers and freeze them to the glass, risking damage to the wiper motor or ripping off the rubber if you switch them on.

Can you see out?

When you are in a rush to get to work or do the school run, it can be tempting to drive off as soon as the ice has cleared a little but your vision can still be dangerously obstructed if there’s still ice or mist on your windscreen.

66% of drivers use a scraper and 45% use de-icer, or a combination of both. But 12% admitted that they don’t bother to fully clear the ice off. Younger drivers are the worst offenders, with 20% of young drivers (aged 18-24) admitted they drive off with some or most of their car’s windows still white with frost! Be aware that this could land you with points and a fine if you’re caught driving dangerously so please make sure your vehicle is safe and frost-free, before you set off.

* AA-Populus study conducted for AA AutoWindshields October 2012, 22,713 AA members responded.

Populus is a founder member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules

Share this page: