As freezing temperatures continue to grip Britain, many of us will be waking up to our car windscreens completely covered in ice. Thankfully, one hack could save us a lot of time defrosting our cars when we want to leave the house.
A TikTok account named Driving Test Success (@drivingtestsuccess), the UK’s top provider for Theory Test revision materials, shared the handy tip to help drivers defrost their windscreens in the icy winter months.
They suggest activating your car windscreen fan to heat up the glass from the inside and melt the frost.
In the company’s video, they explained: “Frozen windscreen? Put the temperature on high. Put the front windscreen fan on max. The ice will start to melt from the heat. Wipe away excess water and return the fan to normal.”
This simple trick surprised many new drivers who commented on the video. One said: “Wow, magic! The ice is gone.” Another wrote: “I’ve learnt so much thanks to your app!”
However, not everyone was thrilled with the idea. One TikTok user said: “Wastes more fuel. Just get [out] and scrape it off you lazy so and so.”
Clear View Driving also shared a similar de-icing tip online. They advised: “Now don’t use your windscreen wipers or washers as that won’t help. Turn on your front and rear demister.”
They added: “The rear demister also heats up your side mirrors in most new cars. But if the mirrors are not clear, make sure to clear them before you start driving.”
Once everything is clear, they said you can then use your wipers.
During the chilly winter months, the AA also suggests using the warm air blower and heated mirrors to quickly and safely remove frost.
They explained: “Start the engine and turn on the warm air blower on the windscreen. Switch on the rear windscreen heater and heated mirrors, if you have them. Turn on the air-con. It’s not just for summer it’ll remove moisture from the air to stop the car from misting up.”
They warned against using hands to wipe misted-up windows as it could leave greasy smears and potentially scratch the glass. Instead, they recommend using a lint-free absorbent cloth if needed.
They also reminded drivers to stay with their car while the engine is running.
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