As New Zealand plunges deeper into a chilly winter, icy windscreens in the morning have become a daily ritual for some.
A cold snap yesterday brought snow and icy conditions to parts of the eastern South Island, with several cars slipping off the road.
On Monday, MetService said tomorrow morning was likely to be the coldest day of winter – with parts of the North Island set to have unusually chilly temperatures. Whitianga and Hamilton are forecast to be almost 10 degrees colder than average for this time of year, at -3C and -5C respectively, while temperatures at Auckland Airport could plunge to an unusual 1C.
Read More - Ice, fog, rain, slippery roads: How to drive safely in winter
When moisture starts colliding with freezing glass, car windscreens will can freeze over – an inconvenience and potential danger for the occupants of the vehicle and other road users.
Seeing your car's windscreen covered in ice is frustrating, and the time spent thawing it out means you might be late for work or school drop-off – but neglecting it can land you in trouble with the law. In 2024, a Christchurch woman was fined $150 for driving with an icy windscreen.
So, how can you quickly defrost your car's windscreen before your morning commute?
The AA's Allister Wade told 1News the best thing to do ahead of time is park under cover or in a sheltered area to avoid frost in the first place.
But, if you can't do this, he offered tips to ensure you don't have an ice-obscured view when driving off in the morning.
He said first pour water over the windscreen with a hose or bottle before using a scraper to clear the ice.
Wade said the "biggest" tip to remember is "do not use hot water".
"The sudden temperature change can cause the windscreen to crack.
"Definitely keep away from that."
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Also, remember to turn off your window wipers in case they've frozen to the windscreen.
"They can actually rip your wiper blade or crack it," Wade said. "It's always a good thing to make sure the wipers are turned off when you start."
Next, start the engine and direct the warm air blower to the windscreen, the rear window heater, and mirror heaters, if you have them. Wade said opening a window could also help.
"Make sure you have your recirculate button on so you're not drawing cold air from outside."
If your vehicle doesn't have air conditioning, Wade recommends investing in some anti-freeze or de-icing spray.
In the meantime, Wade said, you should use a soft brush to sweep off snow and then a scraper or de-icer to remove ice.
"Remember to do the headlights too."
Once this is done, you can hop back in the car, but "don't drive off until all the glass is clear".
He said pouring water on the windscreen and driving off was a bad idea, as it could refreeze while driving.
Wade said it was best to "plan ahead" if you know your window will frost up.
"If you can have time to sit and have a coffee, why can't you sit in the car while you wait for the screen to defrost?
"Put it in a takeaway cup, sit there, and have your coffee in the car."
Avoid quick-fixes
He also said quick-fix hacks should be avoided, such as pouring vinegar on the windscreen or rubbing half a potato on the windows the night before.
"Just stick to the known and proven things because anything you try could add problems to the situation.
"You can end up scratching the screen, or using a product like vinegar could be pretty corrosive. If you don't wash it away, you can do damage further down the vehicle."
For further advice, there's a list of de-icing tips on AA's website.
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