'Magic' button defrosts car windscreen instantly - leaving some drivers in disbelief

A major cold blast has engulfed Ireland and is set to intensify over the weekend with conditions deteriorating. Met Eireann has issued a spate of weather warnings ahead of "significant" snowfall and temperatures dropping as low as -10C.

As the mercury plummets, drivers across the country will face a familiar winter nuisance - frozen windscreens. But instead of enduring the chill with a scraper in hand, a driving expert has shared a clever trick that can clear your windscreen from inside the car in seconds.

Driving Test Success, a leading UK provider of theory test revision tools, posted the hack on their TikTok account, @drivingtestsuccess. The video explains that activating your car’s windscreen fan on full blast will heat the glass from the inside, melting the frost away.

In the company's video, their advice is simple: "Frozen windscreen? Put the temperature on high. Put the front windscreen fan on max. The ice will start to melt from the heat. Wipe away excess water and return the fan to normal."

READ MORE: Think twice before defrosting car this way - as it could lead to €2,000 fine or jail

READ MORE: Cold snap to unleash rare weather phenomenon as Met Eireann issues stark warning

For some seasoned drivers, the 'hack' might seem obvious, but it left many social media users in disbelief. One commenter said: "Wow, magic! The ice is gone."

Another praised the account for all their help, as they wrote: "I've learned so much thanks to your app!"

But not everyone was impressed. One viewer criticised the method, saying: "Wastes more fuel. Just get [out] and scrape it off you lazy so and so."

Driving Test Success is not the first to point out the easy de-icing trick, as another online video from Clear View Driving said road users should use a demister before they start driving.

They said: "Now don't use your windscreen wipers or washers as that won't help. Turn on your front and rear demister. The rear demister also heats up your side mirrors in most new cars. But if the mirrors are not clear, make sure to clear them before you start driving. Then, once it's done you can use your wipers."

Meanwhile, in the cold winter months, the AA also encouraged road users to "turn on the warm air blower" and "heated mirrors" to clear frost cover quickly and safely.

They explained: "Start the engine and turn on the warm air blower on the windscreen. Switch on the rear windscreen heater and heated mirrors, if you have them. Turn on the air-con. It's not just for summer – it'll remove moisture from the air to stop the car from misting up. Don't use your hands to wipe misted-up windows – you'll leave greasy smears and a diamond ring could scratch the glass. Use a lint-free absorbent cloth if necessary. Stay with your car the whole time while the engine's running."

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