Expert’s tip to de-ice car windows using 40p kitchen staple

Clearing every bit of ice from your car before driving is essential for safety, but scraping frozen windows in the early morning cold is hardly any driver’s idea of fun. One user took to Reddit to perfectly capture the frustrating reality. “I find using ice scrapers exhausting, especially at 6am, feels like a forced arm workout,” the user said, and they are not wrong. Luckily, an expert has revealed an unconventional trick for clearing ice off car windows in moments — and it costs almost nothing to try.

To help motorists save time, a spokesperson for the used car retailer Motor Match recommended an easy solution of salt and water, which can quickly clear any ice from their vehicle. They advised: “A salt solution is a surprisingly effective way to de-ice your car without the need for commercial de-icer sprays. By creating a saltwater solution, you can dissolve the ice on your windscreen through a chemical reaction.

“Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which prevents the ice from forming again as quickly. However, we recommend applying it sparingly, as heavy use could potentially damage the glass over time.”

Costing as little as 40p a bottle in most supermarkets, this simple mixture can help drivers clear frozen windows in seconds. Just combine one tablespoon of salt with two cups of water in a spray bottle, shake well, and mist it over the glass. After a few moments, the ice will begin to melt; wipe away any remaining residue to restore full visibility.

In the same way that salt can be used to melt ice on roads, drivers can apply a small amount to their windscreen to quickly improve visibility when temperatures fall.

Similarly, Motor Match noted that drivers can prevent ice from forming altogether by rubbing an onion onto their windows, which creates a barrier between any water and the glass surface.

They added: “One unique tip is to use an onion to treat the glass the night before. Simply cut an onion in half and rub it across the windscreen.

“The natural oils in onions create a barrier that helps prevent frost buildup by breaking down frost as it forms.”