De-icer can be a very efficient and helpful fluid to keep your car free from frosted windscreens and poor visibility. While you might think you can use other alternatives, there’s no better solution than de-icer itself.
With that in mind, here we take a look at what exactly de-icer is, how it works and why you should probably avoid using other products for the same job.
What is de-icer?
During the winter months, ice on your windscreen can be the bane of your life, adding precious minutes to an already stressful morning commute. De-icer acts as a lifeline to claw back your valuable time instead of waiting for your car’s heaters to clear the ice.
De-icer works by lowering the melting point of the ice that it is sprayed on. Common ingredients in de-icer are ethylene glycol, which stays as a liquid until it reaches -12°C, and alcohol (both methanol and ethanol) which stay as liquids well below -100°C.
By spraying this concoction onto the ice, it lowers the melting point of it and causes it to turn into liquid water.
Are alternative de-icers effective?
If you’ve ever found yourself in the scenario like in our intro, you’ll know that starting your journey without de-icing your windscreen is an impossibility! So what are the alternatives to melt away the frozen ice so that you can drive safely to your destination?
Homemade de-icers
In recent years, the wonders of the internet have provided us with a plethora of homemade solutions for any problem you can think of and de-icers are no different. Internet chemists have advocated for solutions that include vinegar, baking soda, coffee, vodka, and dish soap.
In theory, the vodka solution should work but it’s a very expensive way to de-ice your car and could potentially damage paintwork because of the high alcohol content.
While the other options might melt the ice by lowering its melting point slightly, it is unlikely to be as effective. For example, vinegar has a freezing point only 3°C lower than water, so won’t be particularly effective if the temperature outside is -10°C.
Can you use WD-40 as a de-icer?
It makes sense to think that the “unique WD-40 formula repels water”, so why wouldn’t it repel frozen water? Well, WD-40 does have a very low freezing point of approximately -62°C but it’s not particularly effective at thawing ice and may even cause irreparable damage to rubber window seals.
We’d strongly advice staying away from WD-40 as a de-icer, although it’s fantastic for a wide range of other uses.
Can you use antifreeze as a de-icer?
We’ve established that homemade solutions and WD-40 aren’t effective de-icers but surely a product literally called anti-freeze will be good at melting ice? Well, think again because anti-freeze’s job is to prevent ice, not to melt it.
While, anti-freeze has a low freezing point, it isn’t enough to effectively lower the melting point of the ice on your windscreen. We’d give this one a pass.
Can you use salt as a de-icer?
Finally, a solution that will effectively melt ice! We use salt on the roads to melt the ice that has built up overnight so why should our windscreens be any different?
Using a saline solution on your windows and windscreen will melt the ice but it can also lead to damage of paintwork and seals if used frequently, as well as damaging lawns or pet’s delicate paws.
It’s a great solution in a pinch, but not necessarily the most ideal long term option.
Can use you warm water as a de-icer?
Using any kind of warm water could seriously damage your windscreen. The temperature differential can cause the windscreen to smash even when using hot water.
While using lukewarm water can be less dangerous, it can also make the problem worse by freezing more water onto the windscreen.
For more info on this, check out our dedicated blog on the topic.
As we’ve discussed, the alternatives to an effective de-icer aren’t quite as effective and may even do damage to your car, pets, or garden if used too much.
At Prestone, we’d always recommend a high quality de-icer that is designed to remove ice in a way that is safe for your car and for you, saving you precious time!
