Nobody enjoys defrosting their car in the winter, wasting precious minutes that could have been spent in bed or on the way to work. However, it's a common part of the winter morning routine for many Brits, especially during a cold snap.
Thankfully, the AA has confirmed the 'quickest' method that drivers can use to defrost their windscreen, and the methods that are best avoided if you don't want to damage your car. According to the road safety experts: "The quickest way to defrost your windscreen is to turn on the engine, the car heaters and the air-con.
"You can then stay with your car while it's heating up and use a brush or de-icer to manually remove frost from the outside of the windscreen." The AA adds that you could use 'a bit of hand sanitiser mixed with water' to clear your windscreen, but it's not essential. For a risk-free method, it's advisable to stick to the simplest approach: turning on your car's heater and air conditioning.
Drivers might also want to place a towel over the windscreen when the car is not in use, to help prevent it from frosting over. The AA states that the method is ineffective when temperatures drop below -10C and may not prevent the windscreen from completely frosting over, but it could still be beneficial.
If you're in a rush, it could be tempting to use hot water on your windscreen. One trick popularised on social media advised people to use hot water contained in a sandwich bag, but the AA has warned against this.
"We wouldn't recommend trying this because the melted ice could refreeze and cause your windscreen wipers or even door handles to stick," the advice explained. The AA added that using cold water can also cause problems. "We wouldn't recommend using cold water as it can freeze on the windscreen and cause damage."
Drivers can also take steps to help prevent frost in the first place by parking their car inside a garage or as close to the house as possible in their driveway, allowing the heat to help prevent ice. However, drivers might still find their windscreen has frosted over, so it's always worth allowing extra time for journeys in the winter.
On those mornings when drivers need to defrost their cars, people should never leave their vehicles to defrost while they sit inside their homes. The AA warned: "Thieves see frosty mornings as a Christmas gift, looking out for defrosting cars that have been left unattended with the engine on. The crime even has a name: 'frosting'.
"Unfortunately, you'll get the cold shoulder from your car insurance company if your car's stolen that way. You won't be covered if it's taken because you left your keys in it unattended.
"To keep your car safe, wrap up warm and stay with it the whole time. If you need to go back indoors, switch off and lock the car." More advice is available on the AA's website.