Drivers warned to do one thing to car with an onion to avoid £2,500 fine

Drivers have been urged to use a cheap household item to prepare their car for cold winter nights (Image: Getty)

A motoring expert has shared how keeping a kitchen staple handy can help them get rid of a frustrating winter problem in a matter of seconds.

With temperatures due to plummet to -20C in parts of Northern Scotland, drivers are getting ready to prepare their car for snowy and icy conditions.

According to Motor Match, one of the easiest ways to prevent ice from forming on their vehicle's windscreen on cold nights is with an onion.

Cutting an onion in half and rubbing it across the windscreen creates a thin layer of natural oil.

This helps to create a particularly smooth barrier that prevents drops of water from sticking and freezing whilst also breaking down any frost.

Applying a cut onion on the windscreen can help drivers prevent ice from forming (Image: Getty)

They said: "One unique tip is to use an onion to treat the glass the night before. Simply cut an onion in half and rub it across the windscreen.

"The natural oils in onions create a barrier that helps prevent frost buildup by breaking down frost as it forms."

One of the most frustrating parts of a long winter journey is having to scrape away thick ice that often forms on vehicle windows, with drivers facing fines of up to £2,500 for using a car with icy windows.

Drivers who forget to prepare their car's windows before a cold night were also reassured by Motor Match that they can quickly cut through ice on the windscreens by creating a mixture of salt and water.

They said: "A salt solution is a surprisingly effective way to de-ice your car without the need for commercial de-icer sprays.

"By creating a saltwater solution, you can dissolve the ice on your windscreen through a chemical reaction. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which prevents the ice from forming again as quickly. However, we recommend applying it sparingly, as heavy use could potentially damage the glass over time."

Drivers can also create a solution of salt and water to quickly melt the ice away (Image: Getty)

Salt is able to decrease the melting point of ice, making it particularly effective as a natural deicer that can be made for a matter of pennies.

To make the solution, Motor Match recommended that drivers use a teaspoon of salt with two cups of water and adding it to a spray bottle.

When using the spray, drivers were advised to only use a thin layer over the windscreen and avoid the bodywork in a bid to protect the paintwork and prevent rust.