As the temperature drops, many of us are having to get up that bit earlier to defrost the car
But could you be at risk of breaking the law as you struggle to clear your windscreen? If you have a habit of leaving your car running but unattended, then you could well be...
Here are some do's and don'ts for defrosting your car:
1. Make sure your engine is on!
It sounds silly, but make sure your engine is on, turn up your blowers as hot as the temperature will go. Make sure you also have them directed at your front windscreen and turn on the back windscreen heater too.
If you have heated wing mirrors don't forget to switch these on too. There's nothing worse than thinking you have defrosted everything to realise you've forgotten something crucial.
2. Turn your A/C on
If you have air conditioning then switch it on. While most think it's just for hot weather, it can also be used in cold weather. According to the AA's website using A/C will remove moisture from the air meaning the inside of your car is less likely to freeze.
3. Don't leave your car unattended
While it might be tempting to turn your car on and leave it, you should never go far because it is actually illegal to leave your car unattended. As well as committing an offence you also put your car at risk of being stolen. If the keys are in the car you are also unlikely to be covered by your insurance, so not only could your car be stolen, you would be left without any compensation.
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Children crying with Santa STACKED
1 of 131) This little girl who's as red as Santa's suit
2 of 132) This pair who are both naughty and nice
3 of 133) This howler and a Santa who clearly sees the funny side
4 of 134) This little chap who clearly didn't read the sign!
5 of 135) This boy with a Santa who's clearly had enough
6 of 136) This poor Santa who's dealing with double trouble!
7 of 137) This little lady who's ready to make a break for it
8 of 138) This cheeky chappy who's just about holding it together
9 of 139) This little girl who looks like a handful
10 of 1310) And this one who's beyond the point of no return
11 of 1311) This lad who looks ready for a fight
12 of 1312) This sweetie who just wants his mummy
13 of 1313) And finally this little boy, who has prior form
4. Remove any snow
While we haven't quite reached this stage (yet), you should make sure that you remove any snow from your car. There's nothing worse than a load of snow landing on your car from the car in front, or a load of snow being picked up from your bonnet dumping it on your windscreen and obstructing your view.
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5. Boiling water is a no, no
NEVER use boiling water on your car. As tempting as it may be, never use it as a way to de-ice your car - it could easily crack your windscreen.
6. Get some de-icer and a scraper
Nothing beats a bit of elbow grease. Get yourself some de-icer and a good scraper and you'll have your car defrosted in no time.
7. Don't use your hands to clean the glass!
Don't be tempted to save money and use your hands to clear the screen. Not only will you get very cold hands, you will smear the screen. Any jewellery could easily damage the glass, too.
8. Make sure that you clear all of the windows and windscreens
There's nothing worse than peaking through a tiny hole in the frost, and it can be dangerous too. Make sure it's completely clear before you set off, even if you think you'll be OK being able to see through a square inch!
9. Take your wipers off auto
If you have automatic wipers make sure you turn them off when the weather turns cold. If they are on auto they might try to move, but if they are frozen in place they could damage the motor and break.
So, as the mornings get colder and colder, make sure you allow enough time to properly clear your windscreen.