With the colder months in full swing, it’s essential to ensure your car is fully protected for those essential winter journeys. The cold weather can impact your vehicle in many ways including battery issues, engine troubles, and windscreen damage. However, you can protect your vehicle from the elements by ensuring that your fluids are topped up sufficiently. The one other thing it won’t save you from is a completely snowed-over windscreen. For those instances where you’ll need a set of snow chains, a full-on snow brush will be a more useful bet.

Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA): It is an eco-friendly and concrete-safe de-icer that offers an alternative to homemade de-icing solutions. CMA works by preventing ice and snow from bonding to the surface, making it easier to remove; Mix 2 cups of isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup of warm water, and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. This solution swiftly melts ice and prevents refreezing. Solution #7: Beet Juice SprayDilute beet juice with water (1:1 ratio) and spray onto icy surfaces. Beet juice is effective in melting ice and also helps prevent corrosion. Steps to Apply Your Homemade De-Icer

Use a spray bottle or watering can to apply the de-icer evenly onto the icy or snow-covered surface; Safety risks: Homemade de-icers may not effectively melt ice, leading to unsafe and hazardous conditions. Insufficient ice melting can result in slippery surfaces, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries for pedestrians and vehicles alike. It's crucial to prioritize safety and choose a reliable and properly formulated de-icer to ensure the removal of ice and the reduction of potential risks. Apply early: Start applying the de-icer before the snow or ice accumulates too heavily. This prevents ice from bonding to the surface; Opting for commercially available de-icers specifically formulated for ice melting can help ensure more predictable and efficient results, while also minimizing the risks associated with homemade alternatives. Featured De-Icing Products To combat the cold weather’s harsh effects on your engine, use a petrol or diesel cleaner such as Wynns Total Action Petrol Cleaner or Diesel Cleaner. These additives are developed to keep your vehicle’s injectors and fuel system clean. They will also help to restore engine performance, as well as reduce exhaust emissions and fuel consumption.With prolonged use, salt and rubbing alcohol can destroy automotive paint: The first time salt or rubbing alcohol touches the paint on your car, you might not notice a problem. But, if you continue to use them, after a while, you will start to see the gloss fade and the color dissolve. So, when using these ingredients in your homemade de-icer, take care to only use them on the glass. It can also be useful to choose a 2 in 1 pre-icer and de-icer, where the formula can be sprayed onto the windscreen the night before to prevent a frosty windscreen in the morning. Potential damage to property and vegetation: Homemade de-icers can contain ingredients that are corrosive and may cause damage to surfaces such as concrete, metal, or wood. Additionally, the residue left behind by these de-icers can stain or deteriorate surfaces over time. Moreover, their chemical composition might harm nearby vegetation, causing damage to plants and grass;

Antifreeze comes in concentrated form which must be diluted with water and a ready mixed form. Knowing which antifreeze to use will be dependent on the make and model of your vehicle. More modern cars made after 1998 require antifreeze with silicate-free, organic acid technology (OAT). Even application: Apply the de-icer evenly to ensure consistent melting. Avoid oversaturating the surface, as this can lead to runoff and refreezing; Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) - Used in older models of car, this coolant contains glycol which rapidly depletes and must be changed frequently. Whilst the thought of maintaining your vehicle during potentially freezing temperatures can feel daunting, Halfords are always on hand! To help you prepare your car for winter, we’ve put together a list of 5 essential fluids that will keep your car running when temperatures have dropped, giving you the confidence to keep going. Essential fluids for your car

What You May Need to Make Homemade De-Icer Spray

Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) - A derivative of OAT coolant, this phosphate coolant prevents overheating and contains additives to prevent engine corrosion. Personal preference - For de-icer products, the choice is down to your preference of when to treat the car and how much time you have in the morning. A good pre-icer spray can remove the need to de-ice at all in the morning but requires evening treatment. While de-icer must be used before driving the vehicle to ensure a clear and safe windscreen. Running low on engine oil is a frequent cause of breakdowns and can cause serious damage to the engine. Oil helps lubricate the engine and keeping it topped up could save you from having to fork out on unnecessary repairs. The winter months mean that many of us must drive around in the dark. As a result, it’s crucial that windscreens are kept as clean as possible to get the clearest view of the road ahead – it is also a legal requirement that your screen washer bottle is filled at all times.