A car expert is urging drivers not to use a cheap online hack to clear their cars this winter, as it could result in £500 worth of damage. Liam Spencer, owner of Northallerton Glass, is warning motorists against using white vinegar to de-ice their cars.
As the weather becomes colder, people are looking for ways to de-ice their cars quickly in the morning before heading to work. Many stick with the tried and true de-icer spray and a plastic scraper, while others use the car's engine and interior heating to melt the ice. Some even own cars with fancy windscreens that have heating components built-in to clear their view. Popular online hacks to clear your windscreen include spraying the ice with a solution of rubbing alcohol and water, or wiping the ice with a ziplock bag of lukewarm water. But another popular 'hack' is using a vinegar spray solution of three parts white vinegar to one part water.
The hack is praised for its speed, with the acetic acid in vinegar lowering the freezing point of water, helping to break down and melt the ice, but it's also got lots of risks that most drivers don't know about.
However, Liam explained that white vinegar can actually damage cars in several ways. It can react with or weaken windscreen coatings, dry and weaken rubber seals and wiper blades, and strip paint or protective coatings on the body of the car.
Potential costs of repairing the damage include car windscreen treatment (£60), rubber seals (£8.99 for three metres), wiper blades (£43.99), paint (£400), and protective coatings (full replacement can be £1000s).
If all of these areas need to be repaired or replaced (minus fully redoing the protective coatings), this can cost upwards of £512.98. Liam recommends using de-icer and a scraper instead.
Liam said: “When used undiluted, left on for too long or applied in direct sunlight, white vinegar can cause costly damage to many areas of a car. Even when diluted, repeated usage can still damage your car.
“I can understand wanting to use quick methods to de-ice a car when you’re in a hurry, but these hacks won’t necessarily work any quicker than traditional de-icer.
“I’d recommend using the internal heaters of the car, an ice scraper and a proper de-icing spray or solution instead.
“Alternatively, invest in covers to shield your vehicle from ice, as these can drastically cut the amount of time that you spend removing ice from your car in the morning.”