Frosty mornings are becoming more regular now winter is here and the nation wakes up to cars covered in ice. While many just want to hop in their vehicles and head to work or do the school run, you can spend a good while waiting for the ice to melt.
It can delay your morning routine and leave you wondering if you can speed up the process. Most motorists grab a bottle of de-icer, a scraper or choose to turn on the heaters. However, there are other hacks you can use that can speed up the melting time.
A cold driving expert has revealed one humble item in the kitchen cupboard can seriously help tackle ice on cars. It is also a cost effective solution, with it being sold in supermarkets for as little as 35p.
Alexander Haraldsson has recommended using white vinegar and water to battle the ice. The CEO of Lotus Car Rentals explained: "Spray your windscreen with a solution of water and vinegar, which should help prevent your car from getting really icy and save you precious minutes in the morning.
"Vinegar is a great de-icer because its freezing point is much lower than water, so the water doesn’t have a chance to settle and freeze on top of the vinegar."
To make your own solution, simply fill an empty spray bottle with three parts white vinegar to one part water. But, the key step to remember is to spray your car the night before.
The mixture is best at preventing ice from appearing on cars, so spray it before the ice has chance to appear. Alexander's other tips include changing the direction you park your car.
He recommends parking the vehicle facing east. "A very quick and simple tip to give you an extra 10 minutes in bed in the morning is to park your car facing east," he said.
"As the sun rises in the east, any ice on your windscreen will melt away, which reduces the time needed to scrape any ice or heat up the car."
You can also make another version of a de-icer with alcohol and washing up liquid. The expert explained: "Use some rubbing alcohol and mix it with half a teaspoon of washing-up liquid.
"Give it a quick shake and spray it onto your windscreen and all windows of the vehicle. You can also use alcohol. Vodka makes it the perfect de-icer, just mix vodka and water, and spray all over your car."
