The UK is currently gripping with a cold snap as freezing temperatures sweep the country. Getting up and starting your day in these bitter conditions is challenging enough, but finding your car windscreen covered in ice can truly ruin your morning. Throughout winter, this remains a widespread issue across the UK, with everyone having their preferred method of dealing with it.
One approach you must never attempt is throwing hot or boiling water onto your frozen vehicle. The reason being that the sudden temperature change can shatter your windscreen, resulting in a costly repair bill. Fortunately, there's a clever technique to defrost your car whilst keeping your hands toasty on a cold morning using nothing more than a ziplock sandwich bag.
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To employ this method, simply fill the bag halfway with warm tap water – not boiling. Next, make certain the bag is properly sealed and head out to your vehicle.
Carefully slide the bag across your windscreen and observe as the frost melts away. As an added bonus, this technique also serves as a hand warmer. Just be sure to wipe away any remaining water to stop it from freezing again and you're good to go.
While the RAC approved the use of "lukewarm water" in the absence of de-ice spray, the AA does not. In fact, the AA specifically cautioned against this method altogether.
"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 had small chips or cracks already," the AA cautioned.
"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."
The AA added: "Worse, 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."
The AA recommends starting the engine, switch on the heating and turning the air blowers towards the windscreen, then turning on the air conditioning.
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"Before you know it, that frozen windscreen will start to clear up," the AA assured, adding that during this time you can clear the ice from the outside of the car. You can do this by brushing any snow off the car, and using a scraper and de-icer.
A simple way to prevent icy windscreens in the mornings is to use a shield across the windscreen – even cardboard works for this.
