It’s only a few days into the new year, and already, the UK is facing one its fiercest nemeses – cold weather. That cold snap has brought with it snow, ice, and temperatures below zero triggering the Met Office to issue an amber warning for snow. And when it comes to longer range forecasts for January, the Met Office warns snow remains possible in central and northern parts of the country.
So with no end in sight for the cold weather, drivers may well be wondering how to fix a common problem – de-icing cars. According to one expert, one piece of clothing could negate the need to even buy de-icer for clearing up your car mirrors. Ben Welham, a motoring expert at Cinch, suggested wrapping your mirrors in socks the night before to stop ice forming on the mirrors. January is as good a time as any to start the unusual hack given the cold spell.
READ MORE: Ice melts away from car door locks with one item – not de-icer
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He explained: “Using your socks may get some strange looks from your neighbours, but it's effective. A couple of old socks can shave off valuable minutes on frosty mornings. Just remember to whip them off before starting your journey.”
While Ben endorsed some hacks there were others he recommended avoiding, including using potatoes to de-frost your car.
This viral myth has gained traction, but doesn’t have credibility. Ben warned that this trick might look smart, but will leave you with a mushy mess rather than an icy one.
He 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.”
Meanwhile, it has also been suggested that drivers could put white vinegar in their cars to clear up condensation.
Speaking to the Express, experts at Cardiff Window Cleaner Ltd said: “A great way to clear away condensation and prevent it from coming back is by mixing a homemade solution.
“Simply mix two cups of water and two cups of white vinegar, then add a couple of drops of dishwashing soap. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and spray it straight onto your window.
"White vinegar creates a protective barrier, and soap breaks down the surface tension of the droplets on your window. We suggest using a spray bottle to create a very thin protective cover, which will dry up by itself."
As the amber warning was announced, the Met Office's chief forecaster Neil Armstrong warned people to be aware of the cold weather.
In a statement he said: "With Arctic air now covering most of the UK very cold weather will continue through the weekend, with minus double figures overnight in places and daytime temperatures struggling to rise above 0°C for some.
“It looks like this cold spell could last well into next week and wintry hazards will continue with more weather warnings likely. It is therefore important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings and plan ahead.”
