A 10p kitchen essential you already own could save your car doors from getting frozen shut, as Storm Bert brings in 15 inches of snow.
The nifty trick creates a protective barrier against ice.
With Storm Bert set to reach the UK on Saturday, the Met Office is expecting it to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend”, potentially causing travel disruption and flooding.
To stop car doors from freezing shut, experts recommend spraying a little cooking oil or silicone spray on the door seals and wipe it with a cloth.
A 1L bottle of Vegetable Oil costs just £1.99 from Tesco – a dash of that costs pennies.
If the door is already frozen, push gently on the door frame to crack the ice before trying to pull it open.
Waking up to a frozen car after the UK’s recent snowfall can throw your whole morning off track.
Whether it’s iced-over windscreens, stubborn doors, or frozen locks, these simple tricks can help you avoid delays and get on the road quickly.
Experts at Ski Famille, who are no strangers to cold conditions during their family ski holidays, shared their clever hacks to handle frosty cars with ease.
Probably, the easiest trick – cover your windscreen overnight.
Place a towel, tarp, or even a large piece of cardboard over your windscreen the night before.
This prevents frost from forming and saves you precious time in the morning.
Don’t have a cover? Use an old shower curtain or a reusable car frost shield.
But don’t forget to lift your wipers.
Prevent your wiper blades from sticking to the glass by lifting them off the windscreen overnight.
If they’re already frozen, pour lukewarm (not hot) water over them and gently lift.
Everyday household items can also prove effective when it comes to defrosting your car.
Mix three parts vinegar with one part water and spray it on your windscreen to melt light frost.
Alternatively, rub a halved onion or potato on your windscreen the night before—these create a layer that reduces frost buildup.
Lastly, parking is important.
Try to park your car facing east. The morning sun can help melt frost naturally.
In extreme cold, consider parking near a wall or building for extra shelter from the wind.
A spokesperson from Ski Famille said: “Dealing with frozen cars is a daily reality on ski holidays, so we’ve learned a few tricks.
“Simple things like covering your windscreen and preparing door seals can make a big difference.
“The goal is to prevent the freeze before it happens—preparation is everything!”
What is Storm Bert?
The storm, named Storm Bert, will blanket parts of Scotland with up to eight inches of snow as when it strikes this weekend, with a danger to life warning in place tomorrow.
Airports are also urging passengers to double check their flights are still going ahead – and plan routes carefully, with motorists told to stick to main roads.
The storm is set to reach the UK on Saturday and the Met Office is expecting it to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend”, potentially causing travel disruption and flooding.
An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s central belt, where 10-20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400 metres.
The warning covers parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and some of the Highlands and Argyll and Bute.
It comes as a motoring expert her shared hacks to fix up your car using household goods – from toothpaste to potatoes.
The car fanatic has demonstrated how easy it is with one video having received over 1.6 million views and you won’t believe the items she suggests.
Going by the name of “Driver Ms May” online, she presents seemingly magic fixes for common vehicle issues and in one particular viral video she even uses a tube of toothpaste.
May claims that the product can tackle scratches.
She spreads some onto a car and then uses a towel to wipe the area back and forth a few times.
And the scratch magically disappears.
In another clip shared recently, which has over 760,000 views, May, who is from China, shows some other items that can be useful.
This includes a potato cut in half to prevent water droplets on the wing mirrors in wet weather.
She said: “When driving in the rain, it is very easy to get water droplets on the rear view mirror.
“In fact, it [the car] is most afraid of potatoes.
“We just need to wipe potatoes on the rear view mirror a few times.
“There will be no more water droplets.”
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today
A frosty and perhaps icy start for most on Thursday with sunshine and wintry showers in areas exposed to the northwesterly wind.
Cloudier in the southwest with outbreaks of rain and hill snow moving through. Rather breezy.
Tonight
Wintry and blustery showers continue in the north of the UK, but drier with clear skies further south, and a widespread frost developing away from any coasts.
Friday
Another frosty and in places icy start on Friday with sunshine and wintry showers continuing in exposed areas. Showers and winds gradually easing through the afternoon.
Saturday to Monday
Turning wet and windy for all on Saturday, with some hill snow initially, and blustery showers on Sunday and Monday. Milder on Saturday and Sunday but cooler again into Monday.