The world's greatest ice scraper?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bookrats, Jan 3, 2005.

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  1. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

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    I've been buying ice scrapers (i.e., devices for scraping ice off of your winshield in cold weather), and have yet to find a really good ice scrapper.

    And I'm finding that with the Prius' extremely curved windshield, that my so-so ice scraper is even more inadequate than before.

    So, I ask the assembled PriusChat masses: is there a truly great ice scraper out there? An ice scraper that you are proud to wield? That makes you want to lift it into the air, shake it at the heavens, and yell "I HAVE THE POWER!!"?

    Male imagery aside: if you have one you like, I'd like to hear about it -- and I bet others would, too. Seattle doesn't get frost too much, but when we do, it would be nice to have something to get the side windows clear with.

    TIA!

    PS Am I crazy, or does the 04/05 Prius come with heated side mirrors? I could swear I saw steam coming off them the other morning, after I started the car.
     
    #1 bookrats, Jan 3, 2005
  2. Canuck

    Canuck Member

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    My wife's hair dryer :cry: !......shush now, she doesn't know I use it for that.
     
    #2 Canuck, Jan 3, 2005
  3. removeum

    removeum Member

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    8) Jeff,

    I just use a cheap one piece ice scraper ( brush at one end and scraper at the other end). Purchased it at Wally World. They work great, we just had small ice storm last night and my car is never in the garage.

    Ben
     
    #3 removeum, Jan 3, 2005
  4. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

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    I applied rain-x on the car and i've found that it helps dramatically in the ease of taking frost off the car. I haven't really had ice... and I couldn't tell if i would have had ice because either the Rain-X did something or there just wasn't enough moisture to freeze over.
     
    #4 flareak, Jan 3, 2005
  5. removeum

    removeum Member

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    8) flareak ,

    I have Aquapel on my 04 Prius windshield and had no problem until today. With freezing rain overnight, ice was able to form the whole vehicle, so an ice scraper was needed.

    Ben
     
    #5 removeum, Jan 3, 2005
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Yes, the side mirrors defrost. I can't remember if they're tied in with the front or rear defroster.

    My wife is from Nebraska where (according to her) there are more ice storms and freezing rain than normal snow. She swears by a brass edge scraper. Now I have one; they remove ice very well without scratching the glass.

    I also carry a squegee for merely dewy mornings and light snow. It comes in very handy.
     
    #6 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 3, 2005
  7. prius04

    prius04 New Member

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    I'm surprised no one responded above about the mirrors. Yes, the mirrors are heated.
     
    #7 prius04, Jan 3, 2005
  8. removeum

    removeum Member

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    8) TonyPSchaefer

    When you turn-on the rear window defroster, the mirrors defrost. My home is in Anchorage, AK, and I don't recall very many ice storms like here in Nebraska.

    Ben
     
    #8 removeum, Jan 3, 2005
  9. Chas

    Chas New Member

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    It may not be the world's "greatest" but if your arms are long enough any credit card or plastic ID card in your wallet or purse makes a pretty good ice scraper. :mrgreen:
     
    #9 Chas, Jan 3, 2005
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chas\";p=\"61246)</div>
    How right you are, Chas. On numerous occasions some very famous recording artists have scraped my windows. (well, their CD cases anyway).

    So, Ben. She's blowing me smoke? I've been in Lincoln when about two feet of snow fell in a weekend, but I haven't seen the ice storms she tells of.
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 3, 2005
  11. removeum

    removeum Member

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    8) TonyPSchaefer,

    No she is not blowing any smoke. Watch the weather channel tonight. We are supposed to get snow some time tomorrow. It is any were from 6 inchs to 18 inches. Alas who really knows.

    Ben
     
    #11 removeum, Jan 3, 2005
  12. SyZyGy

    SyZyGy New Member

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    How about a pancake flipper, or also known as a spatula? :mrgreen:
     
    #12 SyZyGy, Jan 3, 2005
  13. removeum

    removeum Member

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    8) SyZyGy,

    I do not know if would be stiff enought?

    Ben
     
    #13 removeum, Jan 3, 2005
  14. SyZyGy

    SyZyGy New Member

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    Ohh yea. I totally forgot about that. :mrgreen:
     
    #14 SyZyGy, Jan 3, 2005
  15. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    All I have is a cheep CRAP scraper with a brush on the other end. I actually used it for the first time today! Really cold, or hot, weather is not a major feature of the Pacific Northwest. Looks like we may even get snow! BTW the rear window defroster on the window under the spoiler works just fine. I gave my son and daughter plug in heated scrapers for Christmas, but they live in Columbus Ohio and Helena MT and needed a hot ice scraper more than I did.
     
    #15 hdrygas, Jan 3, 2005
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I got the Toyota brush/scraper as a gift when my dad serviced the Camry (or the Corolla, I can't remember how long ago). Like hdrygas said, I might be able to test it out later this week
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, Jan 3, 2005
  17. ammiels

    ammiels New Member

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    I like the one that has a thin blade made of brass, enough softer than glass not to worry, but much better at getting the ice off. Peace, Ammiel
     
    #17 ammiels, Jan 4, 2005
  18. BobA

    BobA New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chas\";p=\"61246)</div>
    I agree with Chas... a credit card (one that I don't use all the time) I have found that if the plastic card freezes it WILL break...ooops. if you break the card you really need ....:oops:

    Bob Andersen
     
    #18 BobA, Jan 4, 2005
  19. Ms. Piggy

    Ms. Piggy New Member

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    When you're under 5 feet tall, like I am, it's impossible to reach everything you want to scrape without standing on a box, so I bought one of those brush/scraper combos with a telescoping handle. It works well, but is a little inconvenient to store since it won't fit under the car seat.

    BTW, don't forget to clear your car of all snow before setting out, so you don't create a hazard to other drivers when your car starts to "shed"!

    And slightly OT: I once came home from a trip to find my car in the airport parking lot almost completely covered in ice due to an ice storm. I couldn't clear the ice from any of the door locks, so I ended up having to rent a car to get home and came back later in the day when temps had warmed up enough to melt the ice.
     
    #19 Ms. Piggy, Jan 4, 2005
  20. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer\";p=\"61237)</div>
    Wow -- what a great car! To paraphrase Homer Simpson: "Prii -- is there anything they can't do?"

    Thanks, Tony -- that's what I'll get. I checked Froogle.com -- they go for about $1.60-$2.50.

    (I love Froogle -- it also came up with brass knuckles. Makes an excellent Christmas gift! :D)
     
    #20 bookrats, Jan 4, 2005
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