It's December, half past seven in the morning. You step outside and your car looks like a big white cake. And, of course, you're in a hurry. You're wondering how to defrost car windows as quickly as possible. One person pours hot water over the windscreen, another switches on the wipers and hopes they'll sort it out, and someone else attacks the ice with a credit card, just to scrape a little peephole to see through. Then we see the results at the workshop. Cracked windscreens, torn wiper blades and burnt-out wiper motors. And do you know what really frustrates me? Every bit of it could have been avoided.
Why should you never pour hot water on a frozen windscreen?
Picture this. It's minus ten outside, your windscreen is freezing cold, and you pour hot water all over it. The outer surface of the glass expands suddenly while the inside stays cold. And if there's already a little stone chip or a crack, that's when it can spread right across the windscreen. You wanted to save a few minutes of scraping, but now you're paying for a replacement windscreen. On newer cars, you may also need camera calibration. And that's when things get expensive.
Never pour hot water over a frozen windscreen. And don't switch on the wipers while there's still ice on the glass. Both can leave you with some very expensive problems.
What happens if you switch on the wipers while there's ice on the windscreen?
On a cold morning, the rubber on your wiper blades is often frozen solid to the glass. You switch them on, the motor struggles to move them, the wiper linkage comes under strain, and eventually you either tear the rubber or overheat the motor. Even if you get away with that, the blades can drag ice across the windscreen and scratch the glass. So here's what I want you to remember. The order couldn't be simpler. Clear the ice first. Then switch on the wipers.
How to defrost car windows properly?
- Start the engine and direct the heater towards the windscreen. Switch on the heated rear window and heated mirrors too, if your car has them.
- Spray the glass with windscreen de-icer. After about a minute, the ice starts to melt, and the rubber seals stay unharmed.
- Take a plastic ice scraper and use long, steady strokes. There's no need to press as hard as you possibly can, especially around the edges of the glass.
- Clear every window, the mirrors, headlights, rear lights and number plate. Don't just scrape a little peephole in front of the steering wheel so you can see where you're going.
- Clear the snow off the roof as well. The first time you brake sharply, it could slide down onto the windscreen and suddenly leave you unable to see a thing.
How can you avoid scraping ice every morning?
- If you park outside overnight, lift the wiper blades away from the glass or put a windscreen cover on in the evening. You'll thank yourself in the morning.
- Don't leave summer screenwash in the reservoir. Switch to winter screenwash, as I've explained in my article about winter screenwash.
- Have a look at the door seals too. If they keep freezing shut in the morning, treat them with a rubber seal care product.
- If your windows keep misting up on the inside, check whether the floor mats are wet or there's water trapped underneath the carpet.
A tip from Kris Mladenov: I recommend keeping an ice scraper and a bottle of de-icer spray in your car from November onwards. Don't wait until the first freezing morning to realise you need them. Put them in the glovebox now. Next time, you could have the ice cleared in three minutes instead of twenty.
Winter already steals enough of our time in the mornings. Why give yourself even more trouble just because you're rushing to save a few minutes? I'm telling you this because I want you to look after your car and your money. I hope I've helped. And if you've got a friend who still pours hot water over the windscreen or switches on the wipers when they're frozen solid, send them this article. You might save them a lot of trouble.
What can you get from our shop?
Audi ice scraper with snow shovel and telescopic handle
Audi ice scraper with a snow shovel and telescopic handle. It makes it easy to reach right into the middle of the roof.
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Audi ice scraper with snow brush and telescopic handle
Audi ice scraper with a snow brush and telescopic handle. Really handy, especially if you drive an SUV.
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Audi windscreen de-icer spray, 500 ml
Audi windscreen de-icer spray. Just spray it on, and after about a minute the ice starts to melt.
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Genuine Audi winter car care kit
Genuine Audi winter car care kit. Everything you need for those freezing mornings, all together in one kit.
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- Everything for winter in our shop
- Windscreen and window replacement
- Which screenwash should I use in winter?
- Snow chains for Audi quattro: when do you need them and which ones fit?
- Why does Start/Stop stop working in winter, and why does a new battery need coding?
- Winter car care kit: what should you keep in your car?
- Autumn car checks: ten minutes that save you trouble in winter
Frequently asked questions
Can I defrost my windscreen with warm water?
Don't do it, my friend. The sudden temperature change can crack the glass, especially if there's already a stone chip or a small crack.
What happens if I turn on the wipers while the windscreen is icy?
You could tear the wiper rubber or overheat the motor. Clear the ice with de-icer spray and a scraper first. Only then turn on the wipers.
What's the quickest way to defrost car windows?
Point the heater at the windscreen, use some de-icer spray and a plastic ice scraper. All three together will clear the ice quickly without risking unnecessary damage.