How to defrost a car windscreen with warm water and a zip lock bag

DEFROST your car quickly with this amazing new trick that only needs hot water and a zip lock bag.

All you need to do is fill a bag with hot water when the weather’s caused your car to ice over and then rub it over your windscreen and in seconds you’ll be ready to go.

A quick hack using warm water and a zip lock bag has amazed drivers with how quickly it can defrost windscreensCredit: Getty – Contributor

Even better, you’ll keep your hands nice and toasty while you’re doing it.

The trick will come in handy over the next few days, as the infamous Beast from the East and Storm Darcy continue to batter Britain.

An amber warning is in place until later today in the south east of England, while new warnings for snow and ice across eastern areas the length of Britain are in place until Wednesday.

The clever hack was initially spotted in the Get Surrey Facebook Group, and then shared when a driver found it worked perfectly on her car.

How to prevent your windscreen frosting overnight

STOP the winter pre-drive stress with this simple tip.

Soak an old towel in a solution made up of water and table salt and then place it over your car windows the night before.

As salt lowers the freezing point of water, moisture is prevented from frosting over on your screen.

You can also make a frost-fighting solution by mixing one part of water to two parts of alcohol.

You need to make sure that the water is hot rather than boiling, or you could end up shattering your windscreen.

It’s also much more fuel-efficient than leaving the car running and better for the environment.

People who’ve successfully used the trick say that the windscreen does refreeze, so you’re best off doing this right before you set off and then turning your heating on.

A video shared on the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group got over 6,700 likes in the first 24 hours since it was posted.

Thousands of people have commented on the video so far, with lots saying they’d tried the hack and it had worked well for them too.

One commented: “Been doing this for a bit now… TOP TIP!!! Make sure you wind screen wiper the water off so it doesn’t re-freeze when you got back in the house to get your stuff!”

Another added: “Yes, this is the one. It really works and quickly!”

And a third said: “I do this every time… Hell of a lot quicker than deicer.”

But others were less convinced. One unlucky driver said: “I tried this and the bag of water just instantly went cold in my hand and then I was left with a sheet of clear ice on my windscreen.”

Another said she’d had the same problems. She posted: “I tried this and just ended up with a sheet of ice over my windscreen instantly.”

But a third said that doing the trick twice can help with this, she said: “It worked a treat but when I got in car a thin layer had formed again so round two worked better, lot quicker and safer than de-icer.”

Ben Sheridan, AA Patrol of the Year said: “The most effective way to clear an icy windscreen is with patience and an ice scraper. You can do this anytime and in any place.

“Turn your engine on and put the warm air blower on the windscreen, then scrape the snow or ice as you wait for the car to warm up. If you have air conditioning that will also speed up clearing moisture on the inside but if not a lint-free cloth works well.

“Never ever leave the car unattended with the engine running as it may be stolen.

“While a hot water bottle may speed up defrosting they are probably best left for heating your bed. Also never pour boiling water on the windscreen as the thermal shock could lead to a crack or turn an existing chip turning into a crack.”