A winter car kit covers three jobs: clearing ice, keeping the glass clear and keeping you warm if the car stops. We keep a de-icer such as SOFT99 Glaco Deicer, a screen wash concentrate such as VP-UK Ceramic Screen Wash, a glass cleaner, glass cloths and a few safety basics in one box in the boot. See our winter and Christmas page.
What should be in a winter car kit?
Split it into the things that get you moving on a frosty morning and the things that look after you if you are stuck. The car care side is what we stock and recommend. The safety side is common sense that costs very little.
| Item | Why it earns its place | What we use |
|---|---|---|
| De-icer | Clears frost and ice from the glass without hot water | SOFT99 Glaco Deicer |
| Plastic scraper | Pushes softened ice off the glass | Any plastic scraper with a straight edge |
| Screen wash concentrate | A winter mix for the washers | VP-UK Ceramic Screen Wash |
| Glass cleaner | Removes the film that makes windows mist and glare | CarPro Clarify |
| Glass cloths | Wipe the inside of the screen without smears | FibreKing Gold Label Korean Glass Cloths |
| Blanket and warm layers | Keep you warm if you are waiting for help | From home |
| Torch and power bank | Light and a charged phone after dark | From home |
| Water and a snack | For a long wait in traffic or at the roadside | From home |
How do you clear ice from the glass?
Start the engine and stay with the car, with the heater on the screen, spray a de-icer, wait for the ice to soften and push it off with a plastic scraper held flat. Never pour hot water on frozen glass: a sudden change in temperature can crack it. Our guide to de-icing a windscreen has every step.
Thaws ice and snow frozen onto the glass and leaves a hydrophobic coating that makes it harder for the glass to freeze over again. It is safe over existing Glaco coatings, and the 450ml trigger switches between a mist and a precise spray.
How do you keep the screen clear while you drive?
Fill the washer bottle with a concentrate mixed at its winter ratio, never plain water, which can freeze in the bottle, the pipes and the jets. Keep a spare bottle of concentrate in the kit for topping up. Our screen wash guide compares the options.
A ceramic screen wash concentrate that leaves the glass hydrophobic while you drive. For the cold months we mix it at 1:5 (1:10 is its summer ratio), and the 500ml or 1L bottle fits in the kit box. It is safe on all windscreens, including tinted glass.
How do you stop the outside of the screen freezing over?
Coat the outside of the glass before the frosts start. A water-repellent glass coating makes rain bead and blow off the screen as you drive, and on frosty mornings it helps stop the glass freezing over. Apply it to clean, dry glass in the shade. Our rain repellent guide compares the coatings we stock.
A 120ml water-repellent coating for car windows and glass wing mirrors, with a big applicator head that makes larger cars easier to do.
How do you stop the inside of the windows misting?
Misting clings to a film of grime on the inside of the glass, so a clean screen clears faster with the blowers. Clean the inside with a dedicated glass cleaner and a glass cloth, and keep a dry cloth in the kit for the drive. Our guide to steamed-up windows explains why it happens.
A streak-free glass cleaner for the inside and outside of the glass that removes traffic film, oils and fingerprints and is safe on coated glass. It comes in 500ml and 1L.
FibreKing Gold Label Korean Glass Cloths
A pack of three 40 x 40cm cloths with a 2mm internal sponge layer and overlock edging, made for streak-free glass.
How do you pack a winter car kit?
Keep it all in one box in the boot, with the things you use most on top.
- Use one box: a small crate or bag in the boot keeps everything together and stops bottles rolling around.
- Car care on top: the de-icer, scraper, glass cleaner and cloths are what you reach for most.
- Safety items underneath: the blanket, warm layers, torch, power bank, water and a snack.
- Check it monthly: top up the screen wash, recharge the power bank and replace anything you have used.
Common questions
Do I need a de-icer if I have a scraper?
A scraper alone means scraping hard frozen ice, which takes longer and is harder work. A de-icer softens the ice first, so a scraper held flat pushes it off.
Can I put plain water in the washer bottle in winter?
No. Plain water can freeze in the bottle, the pipes and the jets. Use a screen wash concentrate mixed at its winter ratio, such as 1:5 for the VP-UK Ceramic Screen Wash.
When should I put the winter kit in the car?
Before the first frost, usually in autumn, and keep it in until the frosty mornings stop in spring.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team what you drive and where it is parked overnight, and we will help you put a winter kit together. You can also browse our winter car care, screen wash and glass cloths. For the wash itself, see how to wash your car in cold weather.
