Motoring expert warns AGAINST viral de-icing TikTok hack this Christmas

We all know how it is, rushing to the shops to do some Chirstmas shopping, you have to be at work over Christmas to provide festive season cover, or you are in a hurry to collect your grandmother from the bus or train station to stay with you over Christmas and you find, to your annoyance, that the windscreen and windows of your car are all iced over. 

What about trying that quick and easy car defrosting hack that went viral on TikTok? You know the one! It's the one when drivers demonstrated defrosting their windscreen using a carrier bag filled with hot water?

But motoring expert Graham Conway, the MD of Select Car Leasing, warns the TikTok viral method could cause severe damage to your windscreen or windows if it's undertaken incorrectly.

Graham said: “Putting warm water, as against using boiling hot water, into a sandwich bag before sealing it and dragging the bag slowly across the face of the car windscreen or windows is a relatively safe hack. But if you make the mistake of using water that's too hot, you’re really asking for trouble. 

“Just like pouring boiling water directly onto a windscreen, the rapid change in extreme temperatures could cause the glass to crack."

Graham went on to add further cautions, saying: "I think there’s also a danger people could use the wrong type of bag.

“A sandwich bag is smooth, soft and pliable, and is unlikely to scratch the windscreen’s glass. 

“But using something like a more robust bag for life, for example, one with sharp edges on the bottom, isn't recommended, as you could easily end up scarring the windscreen and causing long-term damage to the glass.”

Mr Conway says motorists should always reach for regular spray-on de-icer as the first port of call. 

But he adds: “Another hack you can try is to mix three parts vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Vinegar is a natural antifreeze, and even just one quick spray will begin to break down the ice on your windows.

“You should also be careful about leaving your car running to heat-up the interior. 

“Many drivers automatically tend to wake up extra early to whack the heating up in their car. Whilst this won't consume a significant amount of fuel, it can actually shorten the life of your engine if done repeatedly.  

“For me, prevention is always better than cure. Cover your windscreen with cardboard, or a dedicated screen, overnight and you can also wrap carrier bags around your wing mirrors to stop them from freezing in the night, too.”

Below, Select’s Conway shares five things drivers can do the night before to keep the vehicle warm, helping to avoid dreaded early morning de-icing.

Park your car in an insulated garage

Whilst not everyone has the luxury of a garage, for those that do, make the most of it!

Keeping your vehicle in an insulated space overnight will keep the vehicle from reaching freezing temperatures. Even if the garage is uninsulated, your car will stay warmer than it will out in the open.

An alternative method of insulation is a car cover blanket. Whilst it will not only protect your car from scratches caused by bikes, bins, or treacherous weather conditions, it will also reduce the chance of windows frosting over. 

Heated blankets

Again, if you are lucky enough to have a garage, place some heated blankets across the interior of the vehicle the night before.

A cheap electric blanket (costing around £14) costs approximately 3p an hour to run, equalling around £1.37 if used for seven hours a day.

With this in mind, placing blankets across the seats will help produce heat inside the vehicle and minimise the defrosting process in the morning.

You can also buy electric blankets that actually plug straight into your car’s cigarette lighter terminal, to keep you toasty until your car warms up. 

Use the recirculation button

Whilst people can assume the recirculation button is only used to circulate cold air around the vehicle, it can also help to circulate hot air, too.

The air recirculation button works by cutting off the outside air to the inside of the car, helping to recirculate air inside your vehicle.

This will, effectively, be a catalyst for the hot air circulating around the vehicle when the car’s heater is on, helping to heat it quicker.

Invest in heated car seat covers

You can actually buy heated covers for your seats. They include a thermostat that, like how any thermostat would work, will heat the seat to an ideal temperature before then turning off.

When the seat begins to cool down, it will restart again. These are pretty cost-effective accessories to have, as well as protecting your sets from any dirty hands, accidental spills, crumbs, stains, dirt etc. 

Stock up on hand-warming packets

Especially for those with children, stock up on hand warmers that are completely self-efficient and will keep hands warm during the drive.

You can activate your hand-warming packets around 10-15 minutes before getting into the vehicle, and place them on the seats before the kids get in. 

Whilst slightly heating the car interior, they will, more importantly, keep little hands cold during the cold journey. 

That's Christmas would like to thank Select Car Leasing for their help in compiling this feature. Which has set us thinking. Does Santa have heated seats in the sleigh?

https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk

(Image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska and Pixabay)