When do you wish you had a bottle of de-icer at hand? Do you keep your car parked outside overnight? During the winter months you'll undoubtedly be aware that ice forms on your windscreen. A real pain in the neck when you're trying to get the kids to school when you'd rather be in your toasty bed with a nice coffee, looking at the best travel torches on Amazon.
Icy windscreens are a massive hindrance to anyone's everyday life. The heaters in cars take ages to clear it away, and you would just rather be somewhere during that time. Such as on the way to work or otherwise. Happily however, physical ways of clearing ice are still recommended.
And while we recommend a good ice scraper for removing ice, it's rather laborious and occasionally you'll need something a bit cleverer. You can risk boiling water (be prepared for a big crack in your windscreen) or you can get busy with a quick spray of de-icer.
The best de-icer at a glance:
Editor's pick: CarPlan Demon Chill Winter Gift Pack - buy from Amazon.
Best for really cold weather: Autoglym De-Icer - buy from Amazon.
Best 2-in-1 de-icer: Rain-X 2-in-1 de-icer and Rain Repellent - buy from Amazon.
De-icer isn't the best for the planet. Ideally if you want to be more conscious, you could invest in a suitable windscreen cover. But in a pinch it's really invaluable and it's a good idea to keep some in the car just in case. We've rounded up the best de-icers so you know which ones to buy.
The best de-icer
Editor's pick
Via CarPlanEncompassing everything you could need to prepare your car for winter (aside from some grippy tyres and heated seats), this kit is a clever choice for any car owner.Included in this set is Demon Ice, a de-icer and pre-icer that's effective down to -20C, Demon Shot screen wash that'll prevent your screen wash from freezing down to -65C and Demon Cool, an antifreeze that works to -36C. Finally there's also a squeegee included too. The packaging even means this is a cool (pardon the pun) Christmas gift for a car owner.
Pros
- A comprehensive pack with everything you need
- Gift potential
Cons
- Only has the budget scraper
The best for really cold weather
Via AutoglymWhile Autoglym may be a premium brand when it comes to shampoo and other car cleaning products, this de-icer remains affordable and is the best option for when the mercury plummets off the scale.This spray is effective down to a perishing -50C and has been tested to ensure it's safe on all car surfaces, including rubber. It can even be used to thaw frozen door locks.
Pros
- Multi-use item
- Effective at very low temperatures
Cons
- Spray cap could have you waiting in the cold
Best de-icer kit
Via SupaguardAlong with a rather scrumptious ice scraper with it's own glove mitt, you also get get a bottle of de-icer, and a 250ml bottle of screen wash to top up your reservoir.
This is the kit to go for when it comes to de-icing your windscreen and keeping it in tip-top shape. This is pretty essential stuff when it comes to winter driving - where visibility is paramount.
Pros
- Comprehensive kit
- Includes glove mitt with ice scraper
Cons
- The bottles of de-icer and screen wash are quite small
The best budget de-icer
Via CarPlanThe classic aerosol de-icer from CarPlan isn't fancy, but it is effective down to -15C and is really good value for money. It's quick to use and should prevent ice from reforming in your windscreen for a short time.
Pros
- Great value
Cons
- Ineffective at extremely low temperatures
The best de-icer bundle
Via CarPlanA simple way of ensuring your car is ready for what winter can throw at it, this kit from CarPlan is a clever choice for milder climates. It includes a de-icer effective down to -15C, a screenwash that works down to -4C and a plastic ice scraper.
Pros
- A great bundle at an affordable price
Cons
- Demon Chill gift pack offers better performance
Best de-icer spray
Via PolarPolar's de-icer spray may only work in temperatures of up to -20°C, but it's a fast and effective way of removing the icy stuff from your windscreen. It's designed to break down the snow and ice to such an extent, that scraping it off becomes nothing more than a breeze.
Polar state it's also great for use on car locks, padlocks, and mirrors, should your car not be equipped with heated side mirrors.
Pros
- Effective de-icer
- Can be bought in a pack
Cons
- Not designed to work in the breeziest of temperatures
best 2-in-1 de-icer
Via Rain-XYou've seen de-icers, but have you ever seen a de-icer that also doubles as a rain repellent? Now you have thanks to small firm, Rain-X which have come out with the 2-in-1 de-icer and rain repellent spray.
It comes in a 500ml bottle and is said to repel not only against rain, but snow and hail as well. You need to apply the protective layer by either applying your windscreen wipers or with a cloth. You need to do this a couple of times to get the correct layer of protection. With that said, it can be quite easy to chew through 500ml if you need to do this often.
Pros
- Effective de-icer
- Doubles as rain, snow, and hail repellent
Cons
- Easy to get through 500ml if applying it relatively often
What to consider when buying de-icers
Can I use boiling water if I'm in a rush?
No doubt we've all considered it on a cold morning with the clocks ticking, but the short answer is no, you should never use boiling water to de-ice your car. While it may alleviate you of your icy predicament in better time, introducing boiling hot water to ice cold glass may cause the latter to crack, leaving you with more problems than you started with. Trust us, it's worth the five fewer minutes in bed to ensure the job is done properly. Once you've eventually cleared off the ice, it's good practice to make sure your car's screen wash is topped up and used when underway.
Will de-icer liquid ruin my car's paintwork?
The likelihood is most modern de-icers won't cause any serious damage to your car's paintjob in the event of a small contact site. However, extended exposure of bodywork to the chemicals found within de-icer spray could lead to visible damage over time. Always be careful in your application to contain the spray site to the windscreen as best as possible. For the interior, we do recommend keeping it nice and fresh with an in-car dehumidifier to deal with the dampness.
What other items should be included to my winter car check list?
If you're concerned about the event of a breakdown, we also highly recommend looking at our guide to the best winter car kits available. If anything, they're the second thing you should be using after you've applied the spray.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he's not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.