November
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Do vs Don’t: Car defrosting hacks to save you time and risky myths to avoid
Car experts reveal the safe and easy ways to defrost your car, as well as the potentially costly common tips you should ignore.
As the winter months close in, webuyanycar, the UK’s go-to online car-buying service, warns motorists of the dangers of a frosted car windscreen and easy hacks on how to clear it.
It is vital to clear frost and ice from all windows to ensure the driver’s full visibility. If you’re judged to be ‘using a vehicle in a dangerous condition’, you could be fined up to £2,500 and given three penalty points on your licence.*
There are lots of tips on social media for quick de-icing fixes, but could these hacks damage your car?
Richard Evans, head of technical services at webuyanycar, assesses common defrosting methods and advises drivers on the tips to try and hacks to avoid:
Don’t: Use your wipers to clear ice
“The first thing you should do is switch on your engine, making sure your windscreen wipers are not on. This is important as if the windscreen wipers are on and get stuck to the frozen glass, it can damage the wiper motor.”
Do: Use your engine and warm air blower
“Switch on your engine and turn the warm air blower towards the windscreen. It is also worth turning the air conditioning on, as this will help to remove moisture from the air and speed up the defrosting process. Once the engine is turned on, don’t leave your car unattended, as this could lead to ‘frostjacking’ car theft.”
Don’t: Use a credit card to scrape the ice
“You can help speed up the process by gently scraping any ice, frost or snow off the windshield using a plastic scraper. You should avoid using anything which may scratch the glass, such as a credit card or shovel. It is always best to use a designated vehicle ice scraper.”
Do: Use a water and white vinegar solution
“Mix three parts vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle to spray over your windscreen for a simple defrosting hack. Vinegar lowers the melting point of ice and allows the water to clear the glass. However, do not do this if your windscreen is cracked or chipped.”
Don’t: Use warm or boiling water, or a hot water bottle
“Whilst some people like to use lukewarm water to defrost their cars in the morning, you must not use warm water on windows or mirrors as this can damage them. Warm water should only be used to help open doors which are stuck together by ice. Similarly, using hot water to defrost the windshield can cause the windscreen to crack and should be avoided.”
Do: Use a saltwater solution
“Mix a tablespoon of salt and water in a spray bottle, ensure the salt fully dissolves and spray the solution directly onto the frosted windscreen to lower the melting point of the ice. Don’t be tempted to pour on large amounts of the solution as it can damage bodywork paint over time; a small spray on your windscreen will do the trick.”
Don’t: Hit or bang on the glass to break the ice
“Hitting or smashing the ice to try and break it apart from the glass can cause chips and cracks in your windscreen. Instead, use a glass scraper or de-icer solution to remove the ice safely.”
Richard Evans, head of technical services at webuyanycar, provides his advice on how to prepare your car for winter:
“There are some preventive measures you can apply during the winter to stop frost from covering your windshield. These include parking in a garage or covering your windshield.
“It should take anywhere between 5 and 15 minutes for your engine to defrost your mirrors and windshield; therefore, it is recommended that you allow yourself the necessary time to go out and defrost your car before you need to set off.
“Do not leave your car running unattended when leaving it to warm up on a frosty day, this could result in car theft known as ‘frostjacking’ or land you with a fine for idling. ‘The Engine Idling Law’ under Rule 123 of The Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running. If you’re caught running your vehicle’s engine unattended, you could receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £40 if not paid within a 28-day period.
“Approximately 30% of road accidents in the UK occur due to poor visibility caused by windshield issues, which includes when dirt, fog, ice or snow on the windshield impacts the driver’s ability to clearly see what is happening on the road**. Driving with snow or ice covering your windshield or number plates is illegal, so it is important to properly defrost all windows and mirrors before beginning your journey so that impaired visibility does not result in an accident.”
“Diligence here will also ensure you avoid any fines or warnings as Rule 229 of the Highway Code states: ‘you MUST be able to see’ clearly when driving.***”
About webuyanycar:
webuyanycar was founded in 2006 with the aim of offering a simple, user-friendly car-buying service and an alternative to selling privately to a dealership or through part-exchange. Since then, more than 4.5 million drivers have chosen to sell their car with webuyanycar.
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