Internet car hacks come and go, but none spark quite the mix of amusement and curiosity like the potato windscreen trick. The idea: rub a raw potato on your windscreen, let it dry, and watch frost and fog lose their grip. Sounds crazy, right? Yet there is some real science behind it.
Potatoes contain starch, which once applied and dried on glass forms a thin, slippery barrier that reduces moisture clinging to the surface. This hydrophobic layer means water droplets and condensation have a harder time sticking, so the glass stays clearer longer. Some driving experts and glass specialists even recommend trying this as a cheap, chemical-free solution for misty mornings.
However, it’s no miracle cure. The potato trick won’t melt thick ice or replace good old-fashioned scraping. Ice build-up will still need physical removal, and the starch coating can leave streaks or spots if not wiped properly. Plus, potatoes contain moisture, so applying them outside freezing temperatures risks the moisture freezing and making things worse.
Practical advice: use a clean potato, rub it evenly from side to side, and wipe away excess starch. Let it dry fully overnight, and reapply after a few weeks or heavy rain. Most importantly, don’t rely solely on this hack for winter driving safety.
In short, rubbing a potato on your windscreen is clever and surprisingly effective for reducing fog and light frost, but it’s no magic bullet. Treat it as a novel addition to your winter prep toolkit not a replacement for tried and tested methods.
[Sources: glass specialists, car care experts, driver tips and internet experiments combined]
