As we head into the winter months, frost is guaranteed as temperatures plummet.
Already this week, overnight temperatures dropped below freezing, with Met Eireann confirming more cold weather is on the way.
Subzero temperatures can mean icy car windscreens, and an annoying wait while it defrosts.
However, there is a cheap and easy way to prevent frost, according to experts from Lotus Car Rental in Iceland.
They have shared a bizarre hack that should keep windscreen from freezing over using a kitchen staple, Mirror UK reports.
The item in question, which costs around 30 cent from most Irish supermarkets, is an onion.
A pack of three large white onions can currently be bought from Dunnes for a euro, making them around 33 cent each.
According to the experts, onions can break down frost as soon as it forms on the window.
Simply cut an onion in half and rub it generously all over the windows and windscreen the night before you need to drive. This should stop frost from forming in the first place.
They say that if you don't have an onion, a potato should work in the same way.
Vinegar is another option, so you could spray a vinegar solution mixed with water on your windscreen the night before.
The experts explain that vinegar is often "used as a de-icer because its freezing point is much lower than water’s, meaning the water doesn’t have the chance to settle and freeze on top of the vinegar".
If using vegetables doesn't appeal to you, there are a few other tricks and tips to try out.
For example, you could try putting a bed sheet or large piece of cardboard over the windscreen to avoid it freezing over night.
Another tip is to use a deicing fluid, which can be bought at most supermarkets and petrol stations.
While homemade alternatives can be effective and cheaper, this will most certainly do the job and is handy to keep in the car for when you need it.
If all else fails, you could try to fill a bag with warm water and run it over the windscreen for a quick result.
However, the experts warn: "It may sound obvious but it’s always worth mentioning that you should never pour boiling hot water onto your windscreen. While one in five of us have admitted to doing this, even pouring lukewarm water can cause car windows to crack, especially if they are already chipped.
"Instead, pour some warm water in a ziplock bag and then rub the bag over your windscreen. This hack went viral on TikTok last winter because it takes the ice off in seconds!"
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