How to stop your windscreen freezing overnight

Preventing frost is far easier than clearing it at 7am. Below are the tips that make the biggest difference, from free habits to products, plus the myths to avoid. Try a few together for the best results.

Why your windscreen freezes

On clear, still nights the glass loses heat to the sky and becomes colder than the air. Moisture settles on it and freezes. The more open the sky above your car and the damper the air, the worse the frost. Anything that shelters the glass, keeps it dry or stops ice bonding will help.

1. Park in the right place

• Under cover is best: a garage, carport or even next to a building.
• Facing east, so the morning sun reaches the windscreen first.
• Away from open ground where cold air settles, such as the bottom of a slope.

2. Keep the glass clean

Dirt and old smears give frost more to grip, inside and out. Clean the windscreen regularly in winter and keep the washer bottle topped up with screenwash rated for low temperatures.

3. Keep moisture out of the car

Ice on the inside comes from damp in the cabin. Shake off wet coats and umbrellas, don't leave damp bags in the car, check door seals and floor mats, and run the air-con for a few minutes before you switch off to dry the air.

4. Use a windscreen cover

A cover is very effective if you fit it every evening and tuck it into the doors so wind can't lift it. The downside is handling a wet cover each morning. See IceWave vs windscreen cover.

5. Let an automatic de-icer do it

If you don't want a daily job, IceWave sits on the dashboard all winter, switches on by itself below 0 °C and uses 28–35 kHz ultrasonic vibration designed to stop frost bonding to the glass. It is solar or USB charged and needs no fitting. Heavy frost or snow may still need a quick wipe or brush. How it works · see prices.

6. Lift or protect the wipers

Wipers can freeze to the glass. Lifting them off the screen, or making sure they are parked down before you switch off, saves the rubber. Never switch them on while frozen; it can damage the blades and the motor.

7. Check the forecast

The Met Office forecast tells you when a clear, cold night is coming. That is the night to fit the cover, park under shelter or allow extra time in the morning.

8. Keep a backup kit

Keep a plastic scraper, de-icer spray, a snow brush and gloves in the boot for the mornings when frost wins.

9. Avoid these myths

• Vinegar and water on the glass: it can leave smears and isn't good for rubber seals or paint.
• Hot water in the morning: can crack the windscreen and refreezes on the ground.
• Leaving the engine running unattended: wastes fuel, may break the Highway Code's idling rule and invites theft.

Prevention methods compared