As temperatures plummet, motorists face the daily battle with frost-covered windscreens. Many have tried all manner of methods of getting rid of the ice from strategically placing hot water bottles to scraping it away with anything to hand including credit cards and those old CD cases.
But with freezing weather already here for many and more on the way it could be key to know how to deal with the problem quickly and painlessly. Experts at Eden Tyres and Servicing say they have the answer – and say it has come from the Nasa engineer.
In an instagram and TikTok video they explain: “Here is the best way to defrost your windscreen according to a former Nasa engineer. Step one, turn on the car heater immediately, and put it at full blast.
“Step two, turn on the car’s air conditioning, as it’ll help to soak up the remainder of any moisture inside. Step three, turn off the car’s air circulation button – when turned on this traps the humidity inside.”
Finally she had one more surprising task. She said: “Step four, slightly unexpected, but open all of the car windows, only ever so slightly as this will help exchange humidity in the car for the dry air that’s outside – and voila, a nice defrosted windscreen.”
But one commenter replied to warn people to take care with one of the recommended steps. Karl said: “Just be careful opening the windows as they may be frozen and you’ll break the window regulators.”
Social media users on TikTok had their own advice for solving the problem. Jonte said: “Put your sun visors down as it traps more of the hot air against the screen.” Bob said: “Demist – then do as you say. Defrost – then keep air recirculation on as you want to keep the heat inside, not exchange with the outside.”
Mark added: “Slight warm water in a bottle and boom 5 secs later. Being doing it for 27 years and no smashed window.” And David said: “A sealed plastic bag with water slightly above cold. Not even tepid. Rub all over windows. Works every time.”
Driving experts @drivingtestsuccess also posted their own advice on TikTok – with one key step to start. In their video they say: “First thing to check which some people may not do is that your wipers are not on. This is because if they are frozen to the windscreen and they are on it could damage the motor.”
Speaking in the video they continued: “Next you need to turn on the engine and turn on the fan to the maximum setting. You’ll also need to turn the temperature to the maximum setting so that it can clear the ice as quickly as possible.
“Now depending on your car this may take a minute of two so while that’s heating up you can get out of your car and start trying to remove the ice yourself. Ensure all of your lights are clear for maximum visibility and then you can use either deicer or a scraper to help get the ice off the windscreen.
“For maximum safety and visibility it’s really important that you wait until your windscreen is completely clear and clear of any snow or ice before your drive off.”
Meanwhile another tip helped both with deicing and demisting. Mike Hinton Driving School’s team advised pressing a single button together with a small adjustment can clear the windscreen quickly and easily. They say press the demister button – the one marked with an icon resembling a windscreen with squiggly lines – and increase the fan power.
They also say it’s vital to set the temperature appropriately based on the weather conditions outside. In its TikTok video it says: “How to defrost or demist your front windscreen. First off you need to look for the button with this icon here.”
Then they added: “You press it, you turn the fan up to full and depending on whether it’s hot or cold outside you either choose cold or hot to the maximum. And then your windscreen will start defrosting and demisting.”
The AA has also issued its winter motoring advice to get the windscreen quickly cleared. It says: “It’s important to make sure that your windscreen is completely defrosted before you try driving in winter.
“It’s not enough just to clear a small patch to see through.” It adds motorist should then:
- Make sure your wipers aren’t on before you switch on the engine, in case they’re frozen to the glass.
- Turn on the engine and turn on the warm air blower. You can also use the aircon to remove moisture inside the car.
- Turn on the rear-windscreen heater and heated mirrors if you have them.
- Use a scraper and de-icer on your windscreen while you wait for the car to heat up.