04 December 2023 , 13:25
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There's a clever 50p trick to de-ice car windscreen - and all you need is one kitchen cupboard item.
Brits have been experiencing extreme cold weather, with temperatures reaching -10C in some parts of the UK. The Met Office has now issued a warning for snow and ice for large parts of the country.
One of the main bugbears in chilly weather is having to tackle defrosting your windscreen each morning, as you shiver in the cold. You could 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 in a hurry.
Thankfully, car experts have shared their one simple solution to the common problem. According to motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk, you can de-frost your car windscreen using an everyday item from your kitchen - which costs around 50p in your local supermarket.
They shared that table salt 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."
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You can use the 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.