Drivers are being urged to not copy a “viral myth” this winter involving potatoes being rubbed on windscreens to prevent frost. Car marketplace Cinch has shared some dos and don'ts for motorists as the country prepares to enter the coldest months.
Rubbing potatoes on windscreens is one ‘hack’ drivers are being told to not follow, with Cinch saying while the starch of the spud might delay ice slightly, it is not worth it. It said potatoes leave a “sticky film” which is easily smeared and can even potentially damage wiper blades.
Cinch motoring expert, Ben Welham, said: "This TikTok trend might look clever, but you'll end up with a gunky mess across your windscreen that's harder to shift than the frost itself.”
Motorists are also being encouraged to not pour warm or boiling water over frozen windscreens.
Cinch said this is “one of the riskiest moves” people can make on a chilly morning, warning the major shift in temperature can shatter windscreens in a matter of seconds.
"A proper de-icer spray or ice scraper is far cheaper than replacing a windscreen,” Mr Welham said.
Cinch also shared examples of ‘hacks’ it believes are worth trying out.
This includes using hand sanitiser to unfreeze locks, thanks to its high alcohol content.
Mr Welham described this as a “brilliant backup” option if a driver doesn’t have any de-icer to hand.
Another hack said to work is covering wing mirrors with socks to stop frost forming overnight.
"Using your socks may get some strange looks from your neighbours, but it's effective," Mr Welham said.
"A couple of old socks can shave off valuable minutes on frosty mornings. Just remember to whip them off before starting your journey.”
Meanwhile, filling a sock with silica-based cat litter and placing it inside a car, is said to be effective at stopping windows from fogging up as it draws moisture from the air.
