Experts' 65p trick to de-ice car windscreen using kitchen cupboard staple – The Mirror
With parts of the UK experiencing heavy snowfall this week, many will need to de-ice their windscreens before heading to work, and you’ll no doubt be thankful for this hack using a kitchen staple which only costs 65p
If the thought of de-icing your windscreen in sub-zero temperatures fills you with dread, you'll want to add this expert's hack to your repertoire.
Up to 13 inches of snow was forecast to fall in certain areas of the country this week, apparently sending the mercury plunging to -10C in some places. This latest cold weather snap has swept across the nation and has forced the Met Office to put yellow weather warnings in place for some areas.
While it might be tempting to stay inside, many will have no choice but to get in their car to go to work or take their children to nursery. And if standing outside in the cold wasn't bad enough, you might find that your windscreen has completely frozen over.
You could jump in your vehicle and wait for your motor to warm up, but this could take up to 15 minutes which isn't ideal when you need to get on the road. Also, you could land yourself with a nasty £80 fine if your car is idling so there needs to be another way.
According to motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk, you can de-frost your car windscreen using a very common item from your kitchen which costs 60p at Asda – table salt. All you have to do is create a water salt solution, using table salt you probably already have in your cupboard, which can be used to dissolve the ice with a chemical reaction.
The experts explain: "This will dissolve the ice with a chemical reaction rather than melting it with heat. The ions in salt also lower the freezing point of water, making it difficult for it to refreeze. Apply the solution sparingly, as heavy application could damage the glass."
You can use normal salt you have at home to prepare the de-icing solution, but if you want quicker results you can use rock salt. Pour some water into a spray bottle and add one tablespoon of salt per two cups of water. Shake the bottle to help it dissolve, and spray it onto your windscreen to watch the ice melt away.
Although this will help when ice has already formed on your windows, you could try to prevent it all together using another item found in your kitchen. According to experts, onions can break down frost as soon as it forms on your windows. So if you rub half an onion across the surfaces the night before, it should prevent ice from showing up the next morning.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said: "Trying to scrape the windscreen of a vehicle on a cold and frosty morning can be a huge inconvenience especially before setting off to work or school. Every year it is almost guaranteed that drivers will use their credit card or an old CD to clear the snow from their cars, but this can cause lasting damage to a vehicle.
"Taking sure the windscreen is covered with tarp or some sort of sheet can help to ease the ice build up. And there are a number of homemade solutions that can be made that act as a great alternative to de-icer."
Other solutions include spraying the iced windshield with a mixture of water and vinegar, which should also prevent ice from forming the next day. A more expensive but very effective method is using vodka, which is great for melting frozen surfaces.
Have you tried any of these methods? Let us know in the comments below.
