No matter where you live in the country, this winter has largely been a strange one for most Americans.
Whether it’s been unusually cold, far too warm, or way stormier than the average season, I think we can all agree that wintertime can sometimes be a real pain.
After all, even an avowed winter-lover like myself can acknowledge that the season of snow and ice has some serious downsides, especially when it comes to driving.
From icy roads to dead batteries, wintertime is full of irritations for drivers. And, as one weatherman noted in this clever de-icing video, few are as annoying as defrosting your car in the morning.
Fortunately, even if you don’t have time to whip up his ice-melting mixture, there’s a great DIY technique for at least defogging your windows in half the time it normally takes.
It just takes a bit of creative thinking; all you really need to do is trick your car into speeding up the process by tweaking the controls a bit!
First of all, it’s important to note that this strategy is unlikely to work if your car is really truly snowed in. Situations like this one call for a shovel, and plenty of assistance.
Secondly, it also important to know that this won’t necessarily remove any ice from the outside of your windshield and windows.
Some may melt away, but you should really tackle that part of the problem with an ice brush or a scraper.
Fortunately, if you’re just dealing with frost and condensation inside the car, the method is pretty simple.
Start by checking to make sure the exhaust pipes aren’t blocked by ice or snow, and then turn the car on.
Immediately turn the defroster fan all the way up to the highest setting.
While that’s going, crank the heat up in the car as high as it will go.
The next step might sound a little counterproductive, but bear with us.
Blast your A/C on the highest setting, and make sure the air recirculator is turned off.
If you don’t normally use this setting, that’s usually a button with an image of a car with a curved arrow inside.
Last but not least, crack your windows. In hardly any time at all, your windshield should be crystal clear, and you’re ready to hit the streets!
Will you give this double-time method a shot the next time your car gets foggy and frosty on a chilly day?
Let us know below, and please spread the word and SHARE on Facebook!
