With the frozen start to 2025 continuing into the third week of January, we could all benefit from advice when it comes to de-icing our vehicles.
Arguably the most common problem we have to overcome concerns our windscreens – there’s nothing worse than discovering completely frozen windows when we’re in a rush to leave our homes in the morning. Thankfully, experts at Vertu Motors are on hand to provide some top tips to reduce defrosting times as much as possible.
The company took to TikTok to showcase an instructional video, which began: “Turn on the windscreen fan and rear windscreen heater and turn up the temperature [to maximum].” Next they recommend turning on the air conditioning system [A/C] to reduce the humidity inside the vehicle.
The video continued: “Then turn off the fan recirculation [identifiable by button with a car with an arrow inside] – this brings in fresh, dry air from the outside.”
Another tip is to turn up the fan. But if you want a clearer windscreen “even faster”, they have two little-known hacks up their sleeves, which they went on to reveal.
“Flip down your sun visors,” they advised. “This helps trap the hot air under the windscreen. And finally crack [open slightly to break the frozen seal] the windows – this will let even more humidity out of the car.”
Several TikTok users responded to suggest they’d sooner use warm water to quickly melt any ice and snow. The AA advises against this practice, however, stating that doing so risks damaging the glass. “Avoid even lukewarm water,” their website states.
“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.”
And whilst the method may seem a quick fix, it could soon prove detrimental if the water you used refreezes.”On very cold days, the water could turn to ice before you know it – and warm water freezes faster than cold water,” the AA adds.
“If it refreezes, it’ll create a layer of ice on your windscreen (and on your driveway if you’ve spilt any). 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.”
