How to quickly defrost your windscreen in winter
You’d think, given how cold Britain gets, that we’d know how to safely de-ice our cars.
Frosty mornings have arrived — everyone has been going on about the chilly onset this week — and so for those who face their morning commute by car, clearing the windscreen is a must, mirror.co.uk wrote.
Unfortunately, a car was stolen every five minutes. Motorists left their motors running unattended to defrost. Merry Christmas.
There were reports of numerous thefts across the country. There were numerous reports in the Birmingham Mail, while Cumbria Constabulary said a van driver in the town returned to find an empty parking space having gone inside to fetch hot water.
Dean Hill, AA Autowindshields technician of the year, said that modern cars are very difficult to steal without keys, but added: “To car thieves, frosty mornings are a Christmas gift.”
Here are a few points from the AA you should consider when defrosting:
1. Stay with the car all the time — if you must go back indoors switch off and lock the car.
2. Do not drive off until all of the glass is clear
3. Remember not to leave wipers in ‘auto’ when frost is expected — if wipers are frozen to the glass the wiper motor could be damaged. Don’t try to force frozen wipers off the glass
4. Never use just-boiled water to clear glass — it could crack the glass, freezes quickly and could ice your wipers to the glass
5. Clear all snow off the car — a soft brush is effective — making sure the front grille is clear (otherwise there is risk of the engine overheating). Make sure lights are clean and working
6. Air conditioning isn’t only for summer — it will help to dry the air and keep cold glass mist free.
7. Don’t use your hands to wipe misted-up windows — you’ll leave greasy smears and a diamond ring could scratch the glass. Use a lint-free absorbent cloth if necessary.