Ensuring you have good visibility is essential during the colder months. As windscreens ice up and mirrors freeze over, it’s important that you have the tools and knowledge to tackle the problem successfully.
Our experts will show you how to defrost your windscreen and washers easily, so you can get back on the road safely in no time.
You can find and order everything you need to get your motor winter-ready in our extensive winter essentials range.
What you’ll need
To deal with frosty windscreens, you’ll need a few handy tools. These include:
- An ice scraper
- Soft bristle brush
- De-icer
- Soft cloth
- Large piece of cardboard
Things you shouldn’t do
There are some common myths when defrosting your windscreen that aren’t guaranteed to work and can actually cause more damage than good.
Don’t use warm water on a frozen windscreen
It’s easy to assume that using warm or hot water to melt away ice is an easy fix. However, this isn’t the case.
Glass expands when exposed to warm water, and then quickly contracts in the cold. This rapid change can cause the glass that makes up the car windscreen to crack, obscuring your visibility. Plus, as temperatures change, the fracturing can get even worse, causing severe problems to your car.
If this happens, visit a mechanic as quickly as possible, so they can fix any damaged glass safely.
Along with damaging the windscreen, any water you use is also likely to freeze and form a sheet of ice on the windscreen, creating more work for you to remove.
Don’t use your windscreen washers
Using your car’s washers to wipe away any ice or frost can damage the motor that moves them. On particularly cold days, the washers may struggle to remove the ice that has built up and put a strain on the motor, so avoid using them as a quick way to get back on the road.
Don’t leave your car to thaw out
When it’s cold, it is tempting to head inside and let the car’s heaters do the work of defrosting the windshield. However, this leaves your vehicle vulnerable to theft, as potential thieves can use this time to steal cars that have been left unattended.
Stay with your vehicle for as long as possible whilst it defrosts, or keep it in sight from inside your home until you’re ready to drive.
Don’t drive away before the windscreen is clear
In our impatience to get to work or drop the kids off at school, you may think you’ve got enough visibility to start driving again safely, even if your windscreen isn’t fully clear. This is called ‘portholing’ and is dangerous to you, other drivers and pedestrians.
If caught, you can receive a £100 fine and three points being added to your driver’s license.
So, don’t take the risk! Only start your journey when the windscreen is fully clear, as it can quickly freeze up again on very cold days, making travelling incredibly dangerous.
Defrosting your windscreen:
Step-by-step
1. Check the car’s wipers
First of all, examine your car’s windscreen washers to make sure they’re not stuck to the glass. As a precaution, turn them off from the steering wheel controls to ensure that when you turn the engine on, the rubber on the washers isn’t ripped off.
Using windscreen wiper liquid that contains antifreeze is an effective way to prevent the build-up of ice and frost as you drive. To help defrost windscreen washers each morning, cardboard can also be added between the blade and the glass to reduce the risk of them sticking.
2. Turn on the engine
It’s time to start the engine and switch on your car’s heaters. Direct any air blowers towards the windscreen to help it defrost and use a soft cloth to clear away any condensation.
Some cars can also come with mirrors and heated windscreens that are heated, so make sure to use these to improve the rate of defrosting.
3. Remove any snow on the car
Whilst the interior windscreen is defrosting, take this time to remove any snow that has built-up on your car. Use a soft bristle brush to scrape it away, so you don’t risk any scratches with a coarser brush.
A softer brush is also ideal for clearing snow from your car’s grill, which is vital for ensuring the engine doesn’t overheat due to obstruction.
4. Use your scraper and de-icer
Your exterior windscreen will now be ready to be defrosted. Take your de-icer and spray it onto the glass, covering all areas. De-icer will make it easier to remove any ice by preventing it from bonding with the surface it is on.
Once the windscreen is covered, use the scraper to remove the ice until it is completely clear.
5. Preventing ice build-up
There are things you can do to help prevent ice building-up on your car’s windscreen and reduce the work you need to do when defrosting it.
6. Cover the windscreen and mirrors with a shield
Attaching a frost protector to your windscreen will help to stop ice from forming on your windscreen. Something as simple as a large piece of cardboard can help minimise frost build-up.
Plastic bags also do wonders for protecting your car’s wingmirrors from ice; simply tie them on with an elastic band.
7. Use your garage
If your house has a garage you can use, store your car in it overnight. This helps to prevent ice build-up, as your car is not exposed to the bitterly cold night air. Storing your car in a garage also helps to stop the inside of your car windscreen from freezing too.
Your windscreen is now defrosted, and you can protect your car against future ice and the effects of freezing weather. Preparing for winter travel presents many other challenges too. Our guide of the top winter essentials when driving will arm you everything you need to keep yourself and others safe in these tough conditions.