Drivers urged to clear frost from windscreen properly to avoid unnecessary repair costs
SOME frost clearing techniques should be avoided to prevent damaging the car and potentially ending up with unnecessary repairs.
Car hack: De-ice windscreen with unusual trick
Met Office yellow weather warnings are still in place for the south of England, as fog continues to cause delays on the roads. With temperatures remaining below freezing overnight, motorists are waking up to their windscreen covered in frost.
Louis Rix, co-founder and COO of CarFinance 247, advised drivers on the methods to avoid when clearing the car in the morning.
He said: “When temperatures are dropping as low as minus seven degrees, de-icing your car to head to work on winter mornings can seem like a huge inconvenience.
“But no matter how late you’re running, never head for the kettle, as while pouring boiling water over your windscreen will certainly de-ice it, the temperature is far too extreme for the surface – potentially risking cracked or shattered glass.
“It’s also far too easy to end up with boiling water on your skin!
READ MORE: New driving laws 2022: The 7 major changes coming for road users
“The risks outweigh the benefits in this case.”
Some drivers have attempted to use homemade items to clear frost from their windscreens.
One of the most common is to use a sandwich bag filled with warm water to melt the frost away, without potentially damaging the glass.
Although this does provide a quick fix for the driver, it could refreeze once starting the journey, potentially causing an accident.
DON'T MISS
All petrol and diesel car drivers to be hit by ban [INSIGHT]
More car tax charges ahead for London [WARNING]
'Stupid’ car tax changes should be 'scrapped' after mass disapproval [COMMENT]
Another strange hack some have spoken about is using onions or potatoes to help prevent the build-up of frost.
Driving with condensation, frost or ice on the windscreen can lead to drivers being fined up to £100 and three penalty points on their licence.
Mr Rix continued, saying: “This isn’t, however, the only mistake we make.
“Many motorists are tempted to turn the car on and head back inside to stay warm while the car warms up.
“Not only does this put you at risk of theft, but it’s also a criminal offence to leave a car running (unattended) on a public road.
“You should also avoid using the windscreen wipers to clear ice and snow, as it can damage the wiper blades.
“You’ll want to make sure to use a proper ice scraper, rather than a bank card as they’re a pain to replace should it snap in your hand.
“You also risk scratching your car in doing so.”
The Met Office has forecast much of the UK to experience sub-zero temperatures in the coming days.
Their UK observation map shows most of England, Wales and Scotland not reaching above freezing point on Thursday.
The weather forecaster also urged drivers to remain safe when driving in these sorts of temperatures.
They warn that journey times may be extended and urge drivers to be safe in the cold conditions.