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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Grace Hoffman & Jacob Rawley

Experts warn drivers against windscreen defrosting hack that could damage car

With wintry weather setting in this week, many will have been taking to the internet and social media to figure out clever ways to defrost the car more quickly.

After all, nobody wants to have to get up early just to sit and wait for snow and frost to melt away. However, motorists have been issued a warning about a defrosting hack as it could end up damaging your car.

Some motorists have been using WD-40 to defrost their car windscreen, reports the Mirror. But experts are warning that this could do more harm than good.

Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, said: "We've seen this hack becoming more and more popular on social media, and at first glance it may make sense to many people.

"WD-40 is a fantastic product that's a key piece of kit for all types of motoring and DIY tasks. But the truth is the oil does not thaw ice, and could lead to problems if sprayed liberally around on a frosty morning."

An expert recommends sticking to the scraper (Getty Images)

This is due to the fact that WD-40 contains petroleum spirit which can soften natural rubber and could also cause it to swell. This could lead to an unwanted and unplanned repair.

People wrongly believe that WD-400 won't impact the rubber window seals as they see it used on coolant and oil hoses.

But Mr Conway explained: "These hoses are made from synthetic rubber in order to withstand heat and vibrations, a different substance from the one holding your windows in place.

"My advice is to avoid using WD-40 as a de-icer and instead try a traditional scraper or specialist de-icing products."

The expert added that you should still make sure to scrape your windows properly, as failing to do so could see you fined £60 for driving a vehicle in a 'dangerous condition'.

The oil brand's website also urges drivers not to use it for clearing windscreens.

It states: "We don't recommend using WD-40 on your windows or windshields but you can apply WD-40 Multi-Use to your number plate to not only provide a protective layer to stop it from rusting but to also prevent ice from sticking to it."

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