It's a frosty morning.
You're running late and you take one long look at your car windscreen after stepping outside.
Yeah . . . bad times.
Truth is, there's no 'hacks' to defrosting your car windows. But there are a few ways to make the process quicker, as well as ways to help stop the frost from appearing in the first place.
There's also some techniques you definitely should NOT try.
Check Your Wipers
Probably the first thing you should do.
Because if your wipers are frozen to the glass, they could get damaged if they come on once you start the car.
So make sure that wiper switch is turned off before you start the ignition.
Power Up and Use Air Con
Wipers all good? Then you can start the car up.
Set the fans / car heaters to blow warm air up at the windscreen and make sure that the air con (if you have it) is switched on.
Yep, aircon isn't just for summer. It's great for defrosting and also for demisting the windscreen, as it removes moisture from the air.
And if you have the luxury of a rear windscreen heater, use that as well!
Clear Loose Snow
To make the most of your probably limited time, this is best done whilst the aircon and heating are working their magic. (But with the car doors closed, mind. To stop the outside air counteracting the heating/air conditioning.)
Using a soft brush (or just your ice scraper), clear all the loose snow off your windows, roof and number plate. It's illegal to drive with obscured vision or with snow that could fall off your car and present a hazard for other drivers.
Defrost Your Windscreen
Time for some hard graft!
The task of manually defrosting the front window with your ice scraper.
Hey, someone has to do it . . .
Use a Proper Ice Scraper
Not a credit card. Not a CD.
Otherwise known as 'DIY ice scrapers', those have the potential to scratch the glass.
And don’t just use your bare hands either. Besides them getting a bit cold and leaving grease marks, any jewellery you have on has the potential to scratch the glass.
Best keep your ice scraper in the glove compartment for ease of access, and make sure you use the soft end of it when scraping.
Get the All-clear
Simple bit of advice, we know . . . but don't drive off until you can actually SEE.
If you're running late, it's tempting to just clear a small part of your windscreen.
That's called 'portholing', and as well as obstructing your view of the road and potentially causing a crash, you could face a £100 fine and 3 points on your license if the coppers catch you doing it.
Ouch . . .
Stay With Your Car
Or it might get lonely.
Seriously though, stay with it.
Thieves are always on the lookout for their next catch, and they know that frosty mornings offer them the chance to have a field day. The crime even has a name: frosting.
So whilst turning on the engine and retreating back indoors can seem tempting, you'll be treading thin ice if you do.
And guess what? Because you've left your car running unattended, your insurance company is going to give you the cold shoulder in the event of a theft.
How to Stop Frost in the First Place
Of course: the best way to tackle a problem is to stop it from happening in the first place, right?
Attack is the best form of defence.
Soooo . . . some tips:
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Keep your car in a garage (if you have one) overnight to stop it from icing up.
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If you don't have a garage, even parking closer to your home will help more heat get to the car and lessen the frost.
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Leave a 'shield' across your windscreen overnight. This could be in the form of a towel/blanket soaked in saltwater, or a large sheet of cardboard.
Don't Use Hot Water
This is a big no-no.
Warm or hot water might be good for getting rid of the Wicked Witch of the West, but it'll only risk damaging your car.
If you chuck a bucket of it on your windscreen, the rapid change in temperature can be enough to crack or shatter it, especially if there's already a scratch or chip.
Plus, hot or boiling water freezes much faster than cold water, so if it's especially cold outside, it could even refreeze on your windscreen.
Can You Use Cold Water to Defrost a Windscreen?
It's less dangerous than using hot water, but we still wouldn't recommend it.
Like hot water, it too can freeze on the windscreen, even if it takes longer to do so.
Scraping is still the best method.
Don't Fall for Online "Hacks"
There's a lot of defrosting 'self-help' tips out there, and some of them are about as useful as medical advice given during the Black Plague.
Hot Water in a Sandwich Bag?
This genius idea came to light after a driver shared his 'hack' of putting it in a sandwich bag to defrost his windscreen.
But don't try it folks, because the melted ice could refreeze and cause your windscreen wipers or door handles to stick.
Half a Potato On Your Windows?
Apparently, rubbing half a potato onto the inside of your windows stops them from steaming up/defrosting.
In reality, the only thing we'd recommend rubbing onto your windows is a clean cloth.
Potatoes are for eating, folks.
Shaving Foam
This marvellous piece of advice says to put a dollop of shaving foam onto a clean towel and wipe your windscreen with it. Then to take another clean towel and wipe the foam off the screen.
To be honest, we haven't tried it, so we can't say whether it works.
But do you really want to be putting shaving foam on your car?
Summary
Long story short: there's no quick or easy fix when it comes to the miserable task of defrosting your car.
It really is a case of starting up the car, putting on the heating/AC, and scraping the frost off.
FAQs
What is the best way to defrost a car windscreen?
The best way is to turn the heating and air conditioning on, and whilst that's happening, you should step outside and simultaneously scrape down your windows.
Do you defrost windshield with hot or cold?
Hot and dry air can contain a lot more water than wet and cold air, so the quickest way to defrost your windshield is to make the air around it as dry and as hot as possible.