A woman has shared her go-to trick to defrost her car without de-icer – but some motorists believe her idea is ‘too risky’ and could cost her more time and money in the long run
As we enter the winter months, motorists across the UK will be starting their days by defrosting their cars for the day ahead as the weather gets chillier.
But it always seems to be when you’re in a rush that you notice the de-icer is empty – as you scramble around your house for another bottle.
However, to save you precious minutes before your morning commute, one woman has shared her go-to hack to de-frost her windscreen using only water and a sandwich bag. In her TikTok video, Clean with Kayleigh is seen filling a zip-lock bag with warm water – emphasising there’s “no need for boiling water” – before rubbing it along her windscreen to melt the frosted ice.
Her caption reads: “Defrost your car quickly on those frosty mornings with this simple hack. No need for boiling water! It works using warm tap water.” She again warned people against using water too hot to the touch as it could shatter your windscreen.
Commenting on her video, one user said: “Make sure the water is not too hot, as the shock could break your windows.” Another person added: “One time I was running late for work and I went and boiled water and then threw it on my windshield. I never knew it could crack my windshield.”
While a third said: “That’s actually kinda smart.” However, believing this is ‘too risky’, some users say they simply get up 10 minutes earlier to factor in time to defrost their car with its own heat. One user wrote: “I just remote start and wait 10 mins.” Another user added: “Or use remote start five minutes before you leave…”
Sharing the best and easiest way to defrost your car, the AA says: “Some new cars have remote heating technology – meaning you can heat up your car without even getting into it (and without risking theft by thieves). Many manufacturers offer remote heating and defrosting, with some letting you use an app to turn on the heaters.
“Many plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles have a clever pre-heat function that heats the vehicle electrically while it’s plugged in. That means a toasty, frost-free car without running down the battery and reducing the car’s electric range.”
