As temperatures begin to drop, motorists will be stockpiling de-icer, ready to spray their vehicles each morning before heading to work. This has led the AA to reveal the simplest method to de-ice your car this winter, describing it as the "only trick that works," whilst warning that all other approaches should be steered clear of.
One motorist asked on Reddit: "How do you defrost your car windows quickly and efficiently? I can never seem to do this right. I just end up pressing random buttons until it seems like my windows clear up. My partner said to match the internal temperature to the outside, but that doesn't seem to work.
"Does it work differently when it's hot or cold outside? Or when it's raining as well? Should I crack my window? Should I turn the defrost button and the AC on at the same time?"
Prior to starting your vehicle, the AA advises you should verify that your wipers aren't activated because "if the wipers are frozen to the glass, the wiper motor could be damaged or the rubber could tear off if they start wiping."
Following this, you should fire up your engine and direct the heated air vents towards the windscreen.
You can also activate the rear window heater and heated mirrors, should your vehicle be equipped with them.
If your motor has air conditioning, this is the perfect moment to turn it on, as "it'll remove moisture from the air to stop the car from misting up."
However, the AA has issued a warning against wiping misted-up windows with your hands, as it can leave "greasy smears, and a diamond ring could scratch the glass. Use a lint-free, absorbent cloth if necessary."
Adding a safety note, they advise you to stay with your vehicle while the engine is running - even if you're parked on your driveway.
The AA also issued another cautionary advice, stating: "If you use hot water to melt the ice on your car, you run the real risk of damaging your windscreen.
"Glass expands quickly when hot or even warm water touches it, but it'll contract quickly too as it cools down in the cold air.
"That flexing can make the glass crack, even if you're using lukewarm water - especially if it already has small chips or cracks.
"On very cold days, the water could turn to ice before you know it - and warm water freezes faster than cold water. If it refreezes, it'll create a layer of ice on your windscreen (and on your driveway if you've spilt any).
"Worse still, it'll build up on the wipers and freeze them to the glass, risking damage to the wiper motor or ripping off the rubber if you switch them on.
"We wouldn't recommend using cold water either, as it can freeze on the windscreen and cause damage. The best thing to do is follow the steps above.
"Turn on the car heaters and the air-con, and use a proper brush or de-icer to scrape the frost off your frozen windscreen while you wait for the car to warm up."
In addition to this, they've advised against the 'sandwich bag' and 'half a potato' tricks, instead suggesting their own method.
