People could have an effective way to clear their cars in minutes stashed in their sheds
Snow and ice can delay your journey on winter mornings(Image: Getty)
Millions of drivers will all face a common problem in the winter months as temperatures drop. But, there is one gardening tool commonly found in most British sheds that could help save people heaps of time in the cold mornings.
The latest reports suggest that Brits could expect temperatures to stay in the negatives for some time. Dozens of counties across England, Scotland, and Wales are still at risk of experiencing snow and ice, according to Met Office warnings, amid forecasts of temperatures as low as -11C.
Ex-salesman turned car photographer Pete, who goes by @Capturing_cars online, claims that a common gardening tool helps him quickly and safely clear cars of frost when the weather turns Baltic. He even says that he cannot do the tool enough justice on camera.
It might be an easy task when you have one car to clear in the morning, but when time is of the essence, people might resort to quicker methods, and a garden tool might just come in handy.
He said: “I’ve made a lot of videos about de-icing cars, and I stand by all of those videos I made. But this is how I de-ice cars at work.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
“When I’ve got seven of them to do and only a couple of hours to do them, all in plenty of warm water and a watering can. Job done – seven more to do.”
Watering cans may not be commonly seen in shops, as it’s not the prime time for gardening. However, people might find cheaper versions online for less than £5 from sites like Amazon.
Techniques that use water to clear windscreens of snow and ice often spread online when the weather turns bitterly cold. Some life hacks involve putting water in a plastic bag and dragging it along the glass.
Instead of watering flowers, try the windscreen for a quick and easy way to melt ice away(Image: Getty)Why is it a bad idea to use hot water on a frozen car windscreen?
It might seem like a quick and easy solution to the problem when you are rushing in the morning to get out of the house. But, if you boil the kettle and use scalding water on a frozen windscreen, it will likely lead to a very expensive problem.
The significant temperature difference between the ice-cold windscreen and the boiling hot water may lead to a phenomenon known as thermal shock. This can cause glass to crack and break under the sudden change. People who already have small chips, cracks, or other surface damage on their car windscreens will be at a greater risk of this kind of damage.
If using the water method, lukewarm temperatures of around 30 or 40C are generally safe on most windscreens. People with chips, cracks, or other surface damage should try using alternative methods instead, such as commercial de-icer or using the car’s defroster on high heat to gradually warm the glass.
If using lukewarm water, be careful of refreezing. It’s worth drying the wet windscreen with an old cloth to eliminate the risk of fresh ice reforming. Additionally, any overspill of water on the path or driveway where cars are parked could refreeze, creating a second hazard for pedestrians.
Comments are closed.