Ice; nice in a glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day, but not very nice when you have to resort to a bottle of de-icer spray to get rid of it. While you can get to work with a decent ice scraper or chance throwing boiling water onto the ice (don’t, you’ll do damage), de-icer is far quicker and less strenuous. As part of our best winter products collection, take a look below at our favourite de-icers right here.
Almost half of motorists in the UK admit to not fully clearing their windscreen of ice, something that could land users with a £60 fine under the Road Traffic Act of 1988. The research, undertaken by Autoglym, also found that instead of dedicated de-icers or ice scrapers, motorists were using gloves, credit cards and even spatulas. These methods won’t be anywhere near as effective at ice removal as a dedicated product.
De-icer involves a lot more science than a humble item like a snow shovel. In order to understand how de-ice works, you’ll need to remember your freezing points. Water (the main component of ice) freezes at 0°C, the reason winter mornings often require a de-icer. De-icer works by lowering the freezing point of water, which melts the ice away. Most will use ethylene glycol (a nasty chemical) to achieve this. Although magnesium chloride (also nasty) is used for exceptionally cold weather.
The best de-icer at a glance:
We still champion the ice scraper for its value for money and eco-friendly way of clearing a windscreen but accept that de-icer is a great way of easily removing ice in a hurry. We’ve rounded up the best de-icers for tackling those early mornings right here.
The best de-icer for your car
Editor's pick
It's safe to use on all car surfaces and can even be used to unfreeze door locks, making it the best choice for when the weather is harsh.
Reviewed by Dave Kirby
Pros
- Excellent for UK weather
- Works on door locks
Cons
- 500ml isn't the best
Best two-in-one
I also liked the fact that it acts as a pretty effective de-icer, helpful if like me, you might forget to spray in the evening, the night before.
Reviewed by Dave Kirby
Pros
- Saves morning screen clearing
- Quick and easy
Cons
- You need to remember to apply it in the evening
Best pre-icer
The Carplan Pre-Icer Trigger is another step you can take to ensure your windscreen doesn't freeze overnight. I applied the product to my windscreen the evening before, and although I was not faced with subzero temperatures, no ice had formed on my windscreen during a light frost in late February conditions. Another plus for CarPlan is that this pre-icer works in temperatures of up to -25°C.
Reviewed by Dave Kirby
Pros
- Does the job quite well at loosening the morning ice
- Good value
Cons
- Other de-icers work at much lower temperatures
Best de-icer aerosol
Other pluses for this aerosol de-icer are its promise of containing no harsh chemicals, and that it leaves a crystal clear, streak-free shine - which is important on those winter mornings with a blinding sunrise. The disadvantages were the cold aerosol can on my hands, the normal RRP and the fact the protective cap cracked when I tried to fit it back on the aerosol and had to be disposed of.
Reviewed by Dave Kirby
Pros
- Environmentally friendly chemicals
- Crystal clear visibility
Cons
- Price similar to '2-in-1 de-icer & pre-icer' territory
Best value de-icer aerosol
The downside for me is that my hand was very cold after using the aerosol can, as I had forgotten my gloves. Additionally, it's only effective down to -15C, which isn't brilliant news for those who live in harshly cold areas of the globe. However, it should cope with severe frosts during a British winter.
Reviewed by Dave Kirby
Pros
- Great value
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Ineffective at arctic temperatures
Best value de-icer spray bottle
CarPlan advertises its performance on the bottle to -20C, but states in writing that it's only effective down to -15C. However, as with the aerosol, it should cope with severe frosts during a British winter.
Reviewed by Dave Kirby
Pros
- Good value
- Spray application
Cons
- 100ml less quantity than the aersol version
Great value 6-pack
Pros
- Works quickly
- Prevents re-freezing
Cons
- Spray jet means you use more
It only works in temperatures up to -20°C, which will be an issue if you live somewhere really cold. But for the majority of UK motorists, you shouldn't worry about it.
Pros
- Breaks down the ice quickly
- Can be bought in a pack
Cons
- Not designed to work in the coldest of temperatures
Best budget de-icer
Pros
- Useful for winter use
- Affordable
Cons
- Not good for the planet
Best rain repellent de-icer
To apply, you need to apply a protective layer to your windscreen before spreading it with either your wipers of with a cloth. This needs to be repeated a couple of times to get the best protection, and with only 500ml at your disposal, it can be quite easy to chew through.
Pros
- Doubles as rain, snow and hail repellent
- Effective de-icer as well
Cons
- We wish the product came in a larger size than 500ml
FAQs – what you need to know about de-icer
Can de-icers work on more than just glass?
The primary duty of a de-icer is to remove ice from your windscreen. But it can also be used to remove ice from the lights and mirrors present on your car. They can also be used on frozen door locks, a real possibility in extremely cold temperatures. Some even double as rain repellents, such as the RainX de-icer. For this scenario alone, it’s a good idea to keep some de-icer in your home. Even the best ice scrapers won’t do much on a seized door lock.
One thing it won’t work effectively on is rubber door seals, potential freezing spots that can prevent your car’s door from opening. The good news is that dressings from brands like Autoglym can prevent this from happening altogether. And if you need a bit more grip in those tricky conditions, a set of snow socks are helpful items for your tyres.
The one other thing it won’t save you from is a completely snowed-over windscreen. For those instances where you’ll need a set of snow chains, a full-on snow brush will be a more useful bet.
How we choose
All of these de-icers have been hand-selected by our team of experts who have spent hours investigating and researching de-icers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
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