When facing a windshield covered in frost, everyone has their favorite technique. With variable results depending on the method used and especially certain techniques that may be clearly inadvisable. A quick tour of the different options as temperatures drop sharply this week in France.
• The old scraper, the ideal
Whether you call it a scraper, frost scraper, ice scraper or scraper, it is still the most recommended weapon for cleaning your windshield before leaving.
A simple and proven technology, all at a very accessible budget, from 1 or 2 euros. Please note that you can use a broom to remove snow, before using the scraper to remove frost from the windshield surface. The only precaution is to check that the blade is not damaged to avoid scratching the glass. And do not use the scraper on the vehicle body.
To protect your hands from the cold, scrapers are even placed on the tip of a glove or mitten: so you don’t end up defrosting with frozen hands.
Finally, there are also electric scrapers, such as the one offered by Kärcher: a rotating disc ensures defrosting and you only have to guide it by hand, without scraping.
• Hot or warm water on the windshield, not recommended
It may be tempting to defrost the windshield quickly, but it’s not particularly advisable to pour hot or warm water directly onto the car.
Pretty simple explanation: windows may not appreciate thermal shock and may weaken or even break. The following video shows several examples of this operation ending in failure, either by pouring hot water directly onto the windshield or through a bag or onto a soaked cloth.
• Cold water, alcohol or a mixture, risky operation.
Some Internet users recommend using cold water, but others warn that this water risks freezing quickly and therefore forming a thicker layer of ice than initially. In fact, the risk of cracking due to thermal shock would be related to the presence of at least a microimpact on the windshield, which is not easy to detect before doing something irreparable.
Others also offer mixtures with water combined with dishwashing liquid, white vinegar or salt. Be careful, however, with the risk of body corrosion.
In anticipation of a cold episode, the Mobilité Club France association (formerly Automobile Club Association) recommends cleaning its glass surfaces 2 to 3 times a week with a cloth soaked in 90° alcohol or spraying a liquid composed of three parts of white vinegar on the one hand. water. It is also useful to fill the windshield washer reservoir with a product resistant to low temperatures.
You can also cover your windshield with protection. Preferably dedicated protection in synthetic material. Cardboard can help, but it runs the risk of absorbing moisture and sticking to the windshield.
• Use the vehicle’s heating, why not?
This is not necessarily the most ecological and economical solution: when you get into your car, you start the engine, which therefore heats up. It is best to wait a little before turning on the heating in defrosting mode, which will end up heating the windows and melting the frost.
In many electric cars, it is also possible to start the car remotely using a smartphone application and activate the heating (quite efficient and does not consume too much energy in models equipped with a heat pump): better still, your vehicle will be warm and defrosted . when you get on board.
This is what is recommended to these Tesla users in this video which is reaping great success on social networks at the beginning of the year. We can see two people defrosting their Model Y with hot water… and a shovel. A tool that we really do not recommend as a scraper.
If for some reason these users cannot use the application to defrost their vehicle, we can only refer them to our previous advice.
Another case that especially affects Tesla Model 3 or Model Y owners are the door handles flush with the body, which can freeze and prevent them from opening.
In addition to turning on the heating, the application does allow you to unlock the door, as this Clubic article explains, but sometimes this is not enough. In fact, it is necessary to ensure that the side window is lowered a little to free itself from the door pillar and avoid forcing it and risking breaking it.
Otherwise, you can always try Gérard Jugnot’s technique in Tanned people go skiing (1979), specifically urinating on the door handle to defrost it. But make sure it’s really his car… Otherwise, you risk having an awkward moment with its owner.
Source: BFM TV
