Brilliant de-icing hack will save you time and keep your hands warm

The cold temperatures are sweeping in

Author: Alex RossPublished 12th Jan 2024

There seems to have been a sudden influx of cold weather up and down the United Kingdom, and many parts of the country are already seeing low temperatures!

Drivers are always exasperated by news that temperatures are dropping, as it means having to leave the house 15 minutes early to clear the car - which is itself a trial, freezing your hands to scrape the screen to barely any avail whatsoever.

Yes, you can use de-icing spray to help clear it, which is better than nothing, but it's so easy to get hand cramp from spraying so long, and if it's a cheap one it'll just drip down your arm.

However, a number of TikTok users have released a genius hack to get all that pesky ice off the windscreen without having to resort to a scraper or spray... And it'll even keep your hands warm whilst you do it.

Sharing the innovative method on social media, the TikTok user told friends and family to fill up a sandwich bag with luke warm water and simply drag it across the windscreen and watch the ice melt straight away.

The post read: 'Luke warm water will help speed up the de-icing process if you don’t have any de-icer 👍 #lifehacks #homehacks #carhacks #combodeice #cartips #learnontiktok'.

Other people have since posted videos of the hack to TikTok:

WARNING: Don't use boiling hot water for this!

A lady called Sarah has also shared another de-icing hack to TikTok, revealing drivers should put down their sun visors whilst de-icing.

She captioned the video with: 'Teen drivers need to know this! Frozen windshields are about to be a thing with all the cold and snow.'

She explained in the video: "So, I do this video every year. If you have a windshield that is frosted over - make sure to put your visors down, so it stops the airflow and it creates a faster defrost on your windshield.

"If you ever have a sheet of ice on your car or when it's frosted - put the sun visor down. Otherwise, you can feel the air come straight up over it.

"If you put the sun visor down, it creates a block, so that it actually defrosts faster."

Swipe through to see our handy tips to keep your house warm in the winter...

1. Radiator Reflectors

If your radiator is joined to an outside wall, the heat can be lost to the outside. With a reflector installed behind the radiator, the panel helps retain the heat by reflecting it back into the room.

2. Tape up keyholes and catflaps

A lot of draught can be let in through small gaps around the house, so tape up those keyholes and loose-fitting pet flaps to check there is no breeze sneaking its way in.

3. Sofa Blanket

Introducing... the sblanket. For those evenings spent curled up on the sofa with a cuppa, having a blanket permanently on the sofa means that you won't have to get up five minutes later, realising you're cold and grabbing for the dressing gown!

4. Draught stoppers

The proper ones can be pretty pricey, but the classic sausage dog definitely does the trick for keeping the draft out between the door and the floor. You can also stuff a pair of tights with socks and pop it under the door if you're feeling DIY!

5. Hot drinks

Whether you're into your hot chocolate, your peppermint tea or your honey and lemon, a hot beverage warms you up a treat when the nights draw in.

6. Thick curtains

When it comes to curtains in winter, the thicker the better! And if you don't fancy splashing out on a new pair of curtains, you can line them yourself with fleece.

7. Let the daylight in

Even if you are using lovely thick, luscious new curtains, open them up during the day! Letting as much natural light (and therefore heat) in as possible is essential for homely heat retention.

8. Hot water bottle

They're as old as the hills, but nothing goes further than a warm water-filled bottle to tuck under your jumper while you're snuggling on the sofa.

9. It's all about LAYERS

When it comes to getting warm, layers are the key. So it's time to get the vest, the t-shirt, the long-sleeved shirt, the jumper, the scarf and the blanket out of the wardrobe. It does increase your washing loads a bit, though...

10. Get snug in a onesie

Probably one of the comfiest items in the world, and obviously also one of the most attractive! Onesies are a great thing to whack on at the end of the day – they're super comfy, and cover literally every part of you!

With temperatures looking to drop even further this week, it could be a good idea to give this a try!

Now read:

Could you be breaking the law as you defrost your car?

10 top tips to keep your house warm as the cold weather creeps in

Find out if your hot water bottle is still safe to use

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