Drivers must make sure their windscreens are completely clear before setting off on winter days (Image: Getty)
A cold snap is on the way for much of the UK, with widespread for snow and ice in place over the coming days.
This could pose a risk for , especially when it comes to ice on the windscreen, which must always be completely cleared before you set off.
Having good visibility is essential for keeping yourself and other road users safe, but it’s no surprise that clearing ice can be a real chore, and a time-consuming one at that.
There’s one that has been going viral in recent years which promises to banish any windscreen ice quickly, allowing you to set off in good time and avoid being late.
However, a motoring expert warns that the viral method can cause damage if done incorrectly.
Scraping the car in the morning can be a painful and time-consuming task (Image: Getty)
The hack involves filling a plastic bag with warm water to clear a windscreen of any ice that may have settled overnight.
However, drivers should be really careful when doing this, as one easy mistake could end up causing a lot of damage.
Graham Conway, managing director of , said: “Putting warm water – as opposed to boiling hot water – into a sandwich bag before sealing it and dragging the bag slowly across the face of the window is a relatively safe hack.
“But if you make the mistake of using red-hot water, you’re asking for trouble.”
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Clearing your windscreen is essential when it comes to keeping safe on the roads (Image: Getty)
He continued: “Just like pouring boiling water directly onto a windscreen, the rapid change in extreme temperatures could cause the glass to crack.”
And it’s not just the temperature of the water that can spell chaos for your car when you’re trying to de-ice the windscreen.
Graham explained: “I think there’s also a danger that people will 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’, one with sharp edges on the bottom, is not to be recommended, as you could end up scarring the windscreen and causing long-term damage to the glass.”
Graham has also urged motorists to always reach for regular spray-on de-icer as the first port of call.
But he added: “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 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 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.”