Drivers warned about popular windscreen defrosting hack that could instead cause damage to the car

With the temperatures absolutely plummeting this week, drivers are faced with an additional thing to do in the morning as their cars pay the frosty price.

And let’s be honest, shivering outside while you defrost your windscreen is f**king annoying. So, plenty of us try out different hacks to speed things up.

But while one simple method is widely recommended, another is completely warned against as it could instead cause damage to your car.

Whacking the heating on and hoping for the best doesn’t always cut it (especially in this current cold weather) and we all know pouring hot water right onto the window is a big no no.

It's just so annoying coming out to this in the morning. (Getty Stock)

However, that hasn’t put people off still using steamy water for defrosting with it often going viral on TikTok whenever temperatures drop in the UK.

Dorry Potter, an expert at National Scrap Car, urged motorists to be wary of falling for the hack where people fill a ziplock bag or sandwich bag with hot or boiling water, before rubbing it over the windscreen.

You may think the plastic bag offers protection but it still has the potential to harm your car. Speaking to The Express, Potter said that this also causes ‘cracks’ in the glass, which can get worse over time.

"A hack that circulates every year is using warm water in a zip lock bag and rubbing it on the windscreen,” she said.

"Motorists are advised to be cautious when applying anything heated to their windscreen as the dramatic change in temperature can cause small cracks to appear in the glass which can cause the screen to shatter when another bout of frost arrives.”

Using a cover is a much better trick. (Getty Stock)

Potter warned against another method, too, continuing: "Drivers should never use boiling water either. Similarly, homemade concoctions should be used with care too.

"Using items such as a potato or onion to clear frost could leave smears or a residue on the screen which in turn could reduce the driver’s visibility, making it just as dangerous as frost to drive. It may be more sensible to stick with a de-icing spray instead."

One of the best ways to minimise the need for defrosting your windscreen is to get on top of it the night before.

Using a windscreen cover will protect it from frost in the first place and you can even use an old towel to do this.

"Something that could also help is making sure your car is parked out of the shade and ideally facing the East, this means that when the sun rises in the morning it will begin to naturally defrost your car,” Potter added.

But obviously, this would rely on the sun actually appearing and doing so before you need to leave.