Guest KernalRob Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Hi Guys & Girls Im currently doing an Open University Engineering degree which involves working on designing a new product or improving an existing one. The problem I have chosen is the bug bear of cleaning ice off our car windows first thing in a morning. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to answer a couple of questions to help me with my research? So here they are: Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Any current problems people have with exisitng products they use? i.e. Scrapers etc... How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? Does anyone use any different methods to normal? (i.e. different to scraping, deicer, cover, jug of water etc..) Has anyone made any modifications to the equipment they currently use to improve it? Finally How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 5 = Very Annoying 1 = Not bothered. Any replies would be greatly received. Cheers Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I always go for the jug of luke warm water because its the quickest and i'm nearly always running late in the mornings I'd put it at a 4 on the annoying scale. Also, hate using scrapers as they seem to scratch the glass and make visibility worse when there is any glare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I sit there and let the car do the work. It never takes long no matter what car I'm in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Pour lukewarm water over the windscreen and put the wipers on, very easy and works incredibly well. Any current problems people have with existing products you use? No. How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? 30 seconds up to a minute! Have you made any modifications to the equipment you currently use to improve it? During cold days I equip my hands with gloves, which makes them far more effective. How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KernalRob Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Thanks for the replys so far guys keep them coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamAhead Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Heat on full inside, use scrapper outside. Find it's quick enough for me. Any current problems people have with exisitng products they use? i.e. Scrapers etc... Noticed the scrapper has scratched the windscreen this year, need a differant method next year How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? Less than 2mins Does anyone use any different methods to normal? (i.e. different to scraping, deicer, cover, jug of water etc..) Have used sheet on front of windscreen in the past, ended up giving up due to PITA putting on. Used warm water which is the best method but now where I live not really possible. Has anyone made any modifications to the equipment they currently use to improve it? No How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 5 = Very Annoying 1 = Not bothered. 5 = Very Annoying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Depending on how icy, a juke of luke warm water or just an Ice Scraper Any current problems people have with exisitng products they use? i.e. Scrapers etc... Nope How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? 2-3 minutes. Does anyone use any different methods to normal? (i.e. different to scraping, deicer, cover, jug of water etc..) Yes, in a civic which I owned before, I added a remote starter. I'd leave the heater on full blast hot towards the screen the night before & then in the mornings I would just remote start the car from the comfort of my home. I'd normally start it 4-5 minutes before I left the house. This would melt the ice & also clear the screen, not to mention the engine and car is nice & warm by then to drive off in. Has anyone made any modifications to the equipment they currently use to improve it? No. Finally How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l33wgn Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Just an idea but as a kettle seems to be the most popular ( apart from remote start ) I'd find a way to say modify a kettle so it had special switch to enable it to boil up to around 60 degrees on a timer for instance 7:55 when someone wants to go to work, just an idea hope it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KernalRob Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Excellent answers so far. Remote start was bordering on an idea i had which was to have heated windows all round the car which runs of a seperate battery that activates when the temperature drops below freezing even without the engine running (i.e. Parked up over night) and charges along side the normal battery when driving. l33wgn hadnt thought of that one, would eliminate the risk of cracked window screens and if people were running late wouldnt have to worry about waiting for kettle to boil. Even if people just use scrapers or the same methods as above, still post replies as it may spark a improvement idea i hadnt thought about. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyP Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Use the car heater and wipers or a scraper depending on how late I am. Any other method just seems to refreeze. Any current problems people have with exisitng products they use? i.e. Scrapers etc... Got a lovely scraper with fur lined glove attached:) As said above, sprays or water tend to refreeze if it's really cold How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? Scraping 2 mins, heater maybe 4-5 mins Does anyone use any different methods to normal? (i.e. different to scraping, deicer, cover, jug of water etc..) Nope Has anyone made any modifications to the equipment they currently use to improve it? Finally How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 5 = Very Annoying 1 = Not bothered. Meh 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Heater if I have time, scrape and heater if I don't. Any current problems people have with exisitng products they use? i.e. Scrapers etc... Hands get too cold. My girlfriend have a scraper with a fur-lined glove but it's pink and I'm a boy so can't use that. How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? 2-3 mins scraping and heater, 3-5 mins heater. Does anyone use any different methods to normal? (i.e. different to scraping, deicer, cover, jug of water etc..) A piece of perspex about 3x8" that seems more effective than a scraper. Has anyone made any modifications to the equipment they currently use to improve it? No. How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 1 if I'm in a good mood and expecting it to be icy. 4 if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed and don't expect the car to be icy, maybe a 5 if I'm running late as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I use a car port But on a more helpful note, if I have to use one of the cars not under the carport then as per my missus advice I use water straight from the tap. Seems to clear just as quick as warm water. Get the temperature wrong and I think the screen can crack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 to remove the ice on the windows i normally start the engine and turn on the heat a little bit, get back into my home drink a cup of coffee, (it takes a little bit time,5 to 10 minutes) depending on the weather circumstances, i deffinately give it a 5 good luck with your study,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_p Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I always go and start the car whilst I have a cup of coffee in the morning and let it run with the heaters on a little for 5 minuites, doesn't bother me really so I'd give it a 2 as the only thing that changes is that I have to start the car before I have my coffee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whats the current method you use clear car windows of ice and why? Remove most of the ice with a scraper, squirt on a little de-icer and then get in the car and put the defrost blower setting on full blast. Any current problems people have with exisitng products they use? i.e. Scrapers etc... Yes, I can never find the scraper I used last during the previous winter. How long does it usually take you to clear your windows of ice? 5 mins Does anyone use any different methods to normal? (i.e. different to scraping, deicer, cover, jug of water etc..) Nope. Has anyone made any modifications to the equipment they currently use to improve it? No modifications but recently I've been using an A4 size 4mm thick piece of plastic which removes the ice quicker. How annoying on a scale of 1-5 is it to have to clear the ice off on cold mornings? 5 = Very Annoying 1 = Not bothered. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra digsey Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 i run use a map torch (plumbers hand blowtorch) in the really cold weather melts the ice in seconds obv not going to close and then scrape off the rest (around a minute) 3/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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