Drivers urged to use 'game-changing' and 'cost-effective' method to clear frost

Pumpkin and windscreen frost

Pumpkins can be used to clear frost from windscreens

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Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 25/10/2023

- 09:03

The 'simple' method can help motorists deal with windscreen frost

Experts are calling on motorists to use strange methods involving vegetables to clear windscreen frost and make their lives easier.

With the winter chill starting to set in, drivers are being urged to prepare themselves for trouble the morning before their commute.


The Met Office is forecasting that temperatures will drop into single digits within the next week.

Drivers may only be days or weeks away from seeing frost, condensation and even snow on their windscreens when they wake up.

WATCH NOW: Cold temperatures are starting to set in

Some experts are calling on drivers to make use of seasonal decorations to help them deal with the effects of the cold weather.

Halloween is just days away, but using leftover pumpkin on their windscreens could help defrost them.

​A spokesperson for Motor Match explained: “Leftover Halloween pumpkin can be a game-changer.

“The secret lies in the starch content found in pumpkins. Make sure to chop up the skin and rub the inner layer on your windscreen for fast defrosting.”

Starch acts as a layer between the ice and the windscreen glass, preventing it from refreezing quickly.

This should allow motorists to avoid having to scrape away the frost and ice and allow them to spend more time out of the cold.

Starch is a natural melting agent, with experts also suggesting that other vegetables like potatoes and radishes can also be used on windscreens.

The expert continued, saying: “When applied to your frost-covered windscreen, it can help break down the frost, and make scraping it off much easier.

“It's a simple and cost-effective method that can make your winter mornings run more smoothly.

“Just remember to keep some leftover pumpkin aside for those frosty days."

The method has also been touted as being useful for those who want to reduce their environmental impact.

Using a pumpkin or other vegetable is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way to deal with frost as they will not need to use as many chemical-based de-icers which can be harmful.

When the temperatures drop further, motorists must clear all the frost on their windscreen or they could be fined £100 and given penalty points on their licence.

Some drivers may only clear the frost enough to give them a small window to see out of, known as a “porthole”.

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windscreen frost

Drivers need to clear frost from their entire windscreen

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By doing this, they are not clearing the whole windscreen which does not give them a full view out of the window and leaves them with massive blind spots in their view of the road.

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