11 tips for quickly and safely de-ice your car according to the AA

Winter now has us firmly in its grasps.
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Freezing conditions are set to continue in Portsmouth this week.

A weather warning is still in place and sub-zero temperatures are being forecast.

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The winter weather might leave you needing to de-ice your car/ vehicle on a morning.

Snowy scene in Portsmouth. Picture: Marcin JedrysiakSnowy scene in Portsmouth. Picture: Marcin Jedrysiak
Snowy scene in Portsmouth. Picture: Marcin Jedrysiak
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But how can you do this quickly and safely?

Check your wipers

On its website, the AA writes: ‘Make sure your wipers aren't on before you switch the car on.

‘If wipers are frozen to the glass, the wiper motor could be damaged or the rubber could tear off if they start wiping.’

Switch on the engine

The AA continues: ‘Start the engine and turn on the warm air blower on the windscreen.

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‘Switch on the rear windscreen heater and heated mirrors, if you have them.

‘Turn on the air-con. It's not just for summer – it'll remove moisture from the air to stop the car misting up.

‘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.

‘Stay with your car the whole time while the engine's running.’

Sweep off the snow

For this, the AA writes: ‘Clear all the snow off the car.

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‘A soft brush is good for clearing the front grille (otherwise there is risk of the engine overheating).

‘Make sure lights are clean and working.’

Scrape while you wait

The AA says: ‘Use a scraper and de-icer on the outside of your car while you wait for the inside to warm up.’

Get the all-clear

The AA writes: ‘Don't drive off until all of the glass is clear.’

Don’t use hot water

On its website, the AA explains: ‘If you use hot water on an iced-over car, you run the real risk of damaging your windscreen. Most people know not to use boiling water on their windscreen, with only 2 per cent of people we asked saying they do this.

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‘But our survey found that young people (aged 18-24) are more than twice as likely to use boiling water as the general population. 1 in 20 risk a cracked windscreen by pouring boiling water on it.’

Avoid even lukewarm water

The AA writes: ‘Glass expands quickly when hot or even warm water touches it. But it'll contract quickly too as it cools down in the cold air. That flexing can make the glass crack even if you're using lukewarm water – especially if it had small chips or cracks already.

‘When we asked drivers, 23 per cent said they'd used warm water on the windscreen. But the risk isn't worth it as it could land you in a worse situation than when you started.’

Beware a refreeze

The AA warns: ‘On very cold days, the water could turn to ice before you know it - and warm water freezes faster than cold water. If it refreezes, it'll create a layer of ice on your windscreen (and on your driveway if you've spilled any!)

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‘Worse, it'll build up on the wipers and freeze them to the glass, risking damage to the wiper motor or ripping off the rubber if you switch them on.’

Don't fall for online ‘hacks’

The AA advises against using popular online ‘hacks’ such as putting hot water in a sandwich bag to defrost his windscreen.

This is because: ‘the melted water could refreeze and cause your windscreen wipers or even door handles to stick.’

It also warns against rubbing half a potato onto the inside of your windows to stop them steaming up.

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The AA says: ‘We wouldn't recommend rubbing anything onto your windows that could smear them.’

Keep your car safe from thieves

The AA writes: ‘It can be tempting to leave the car to defrost while you retreat to the warmth of the house. But you're skating on thin ice if you do.

‘Thieves see frosty mornings as a Christmas gift, looking out for defrosting cars that have been left unattended with the engine on. The crime even has a name: ‘frosting’.

‘Our research showed that almost 1 in 6 drivers (16 per cent) leave their engines running and go back inside to wait for the ice to clear.

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‘Unfortunately, you'll get the cold shoulder from your car insurance company if your car's stolen that way. You won't be covered if it's nicked because you left your keys in it unattended.’

Avoid ‘portholing’

The AA explains: ‘Not everyone bothers to clear all the ice off before they drive off, instead leaving enough of a window to see through.

‘This is known as 'portholing' and could get you in trouble with the police if you're caught driving dangerously.

‘Make sure your windows are clear.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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