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Beat the frost with some handy hints


By Alan Beresford

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WITH frost not far away, drivers are being urged to follow a few simple tips to keep themselves safe on the road this winter.

Beat the frost with some handy hints and tips.
Beat the frost with some handy hints and tips.

Motoring experts Carole Nash have pulled together several hints on how to safely and swiftly get rid of that icy frosting on chilly winter mornings.

Buy an ice scraper

First things first, invest in a good scraper. It may sound obvious, but this piece of plastic will become your best friend for the next five months, and if you treat yourself to one of the best ones available, it will save you a lot of time and energy in the mornings. Always turn on your car engine and direct heat towards the windscreen to allow the car to warm up before you start scraping; this way, the bottom layer of ice can start melting and make your job far easier. Avoid using any replacements such as a credit cards or kitchen spatulas as these risk scratching or even breaking the glass.

Avoid hot water

No matter how frustrated (or cold) you get, avoid pouring hot water over the frost to melt it. This may seem like a logical thing to do but can in fact crack or shatter a windscreen due to the extreme change in temperature the glass is subjected to.

Make your own de-icer

Chemical de-icers are not the best thing for your car’s paintwork so why not try making your own? Rubbing alcohol freezes at -89 degrees Celsius so will cut through ice easily. Mix with water (2:1 alcohol to water), add in a teaspoon of washing up liquid for every two cups, and decant into a spray bottle before applying to a frozen windscreen.

Prevent the frost from settling

Instead of investing in a car cover, use a few old sheets to cover up your windscreen and windows. Overnight the frost will settle on the sheets and in the morning, you can peel them off to reveal frost-free glass. Just make sure the sheets are nice and clean first, so they don’t scratch your paintwork.

Don’t forget about your mirrors

Your wing mirrors are crucial which is why it’s important to factor them into your frost-fighting crusade. Simply slip a plastic bag over them and secure with rubber bands each night to avoid frost settling on the glass.

For more information on how to care for your car this winter, visit https://www.carolenash.com/news/classic-car-news/detail/guide-looking-classic-car-winter

It’s not just cars that suffer from the frost. To keep your motorbike in tip-top condition this winter, you may want to consider the following:

Store any motorcycles in an enclosed area

Frost can cause a motorbike multiple problems such as freezing the ignition, deflating tyres and reducing battery power. To avoid your bike getting too cold, store it in a garage or shed to prevent the frost and snow from getting to it. If this is not an option, you can also use a heated motorcycle cover to keep your bike from freezing when the temperature drops.

Defrost the ignition

Simply spray your key with a de-icing mixture (1:3 water to rubbing alcohol) and insert the key into your ignition so that the solution can get into the gears and de-ice the bike.

For more information on how to care for your motorbike this winter, visit https://www.carolenash.com/news/bike-news/detail/inside-bikes-complete-guide-to-winterising-your-motorcycle

Mark Copper, Head of Product at Carole Nash said: “My best piece of advice is to allow yourself extra time on winter mornings – there’s nothing worse than having to rush a de-icing job as you risk damaging your vehicle.

"I’d also encourage preparation now as the first frost can strike at any point from the start of November. If you have time and the right tools for the job, winter mornings will no longer be a frantic, stressful start to the day.”



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