Feeling a chill in the air? De-icing the car when it’s dark outside is a chore very few of us enjoy. If you want to win at winter, look no further - we’ve compiled a list of handy tips to help you save time and beat the cold.
1. Put socks over your windscreen wipers
No one likes spending forever unsticking the wipers from their windscreen only to find them still covered in ice. If you put socks over your wipers, this should help stop them sticking. Instead, they’ll be free of ice and ready to help clear your windscreen on those frosty mornings.
2. Cover your windscreen
To stop ice from forming on your windscreen, cover it with an old fitted sheet or a rug that you’re not using. That way, you won’t have to worry about de-icing it at all! Many retailers also stock windscreen and wing mirror protectors which do the same job.
3. Park facing east
If you park facing east, the sun should help you defrost your car as it makes its way into the sky. If you’re up before the sun is, you’ll have to try another hack from the list!
4. Cover your wing mirrors with plastic bags
Covering your wing mirrors with plastic carrier bags or sandwich bags could help keep the ice at bay. Just remember to seal them with a cable tie to keep the chilly winter air out! Cut the cable ties in the morning, pull off the bags, and you’re ready to go!
5. Keep some de-icer handy
Keeping de-icer in your car is always a smart move. That way, if you stay at a friend’s house, you’ve always got some to hand for those early starts. If it’s cold enough for your windscreen to freeze up while you’re parked up at work, it may help too – you’ll have some de-icer ready to help you get home quickly as well as safely!
6. Make sure your screen wash contains de-icer
Always buy a screen wash that contains de-icer – this will stop it from freezing in your car’s pipes. It’ll also help you defrost your screen on those chilly winter mornings.
7. Credit cards make good ice-scrapers
Forgotten your scraper? No problem – credit cards make good ice-scrapers if you ever get caught short! Just be careful - you don’t want to scratch your windows or ruin your card.
8. Keep a winter survival kit in your car
Get some gloves, a spare pair of thick socks, a torch, a bottle of water and an energy bar – roll them all up inside a winter coat and you’ve got your very own winter survival kit for the boot of your car! If you ever get stuck outside in the cold and need some extra layers, you’re covered. Also, socks are great for putting over your shoes to get better grip on snow or ice, but hopefully you won’t need to push your car!
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore WiseDriving cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.
