Can A Potato Really Keep Ice Off Your Windshield? We Tested The Hack
There is nothing worse than stepping out of your warm house in the morning and seeing your car completely covered in a thick layer of frost. It means you are going to be late and your fingers are going to freeze while you aggressively scrape the glass. I kept seeing a rumor online that a simple raw potato could stop the ice from forming in the first place. It sounded too weird to be true so I decided to test it myself.
The Science Behind The Hack
The theory is actually pretty sound when you look into it. Potatoes are full of sugar and starch. When you rub the cut vegetable on the glass, these starches coat the surface. Technically this coating creates a barrier between the glass and the moisture in the air. Since sugar and starch have a lower freezing point than plain water, the idea is that the frost will not be able to stick to the window as strongly, making it easier to scrape off.
Putting It To The Test
I grabbed a large russet potato from my pantry and cut it in half. I went out the night before we were supposed to get freezing temperatures and started rubbing the cut side all over my windshield. I felt a little ridiculous doing it in the driveway while the neighbors walked their dogs, but they couldn’t really tell what I was doing. I made sure to cover the entire driver side but left the passenger side untreated so I could compare the difference in the morning.
The Morning Result
When I walked outside the next morning I was genuinely shocked. The passenger side was covered in that hard stubborn frost that requires real elbow grease to remove. But the potato side was different. The frost was there but it was more slushy and soft. It had not bonded to the glass at all. One swipe of my wipers cleared it instantly. Surprisingly it did not leave a smeared white mess on the glass like I expected, although there was a little residue.
Is It Actually Practical?
While it did work, I have to be honest about the experience. Standing in the cold rubbing a vegetable on my car was not the highlight of my evening. My hands got cold and sticky and I felt like I was wasting food. If you are in a pinch and have absolutely nothing else, it is a cool party trick. But as a daily routine it feels a little bit messy and inconvenient compared to other methods. Plus, I still had to clear my windshield because some ice still formed, although it was easier to get off.
A Vinegar Spray Works Better
If you want a DIY solution that is less weird, try vinegar. You can mix three parts vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Spray this on your windshield before you go to bed. The acidity in the vinegar lowers the freezing point of water remarkably well. It is much faster to spray a bottle than to rub a potato and it costs almost nothing. Plus your hands stay warm and dry.
Rubbing Alcohol Works Great
For a solution that melts ice and prevents it, you should look at rubbing alcohol. Mix two parts alcohol with one part water. Alcohol has an extremely low freezing point so ice basically cannot form where you spray it. You can keep a bottle of this in your car to melt ice instantly if you forget to prep the night before. It is cleaner than the potato and smells like a doctor's office instead of a salad.
Related Articles
-5 Quickest Ways to Clear and Defrost Your Windshield
-Cold Weather Car Hacks to Make Winter Bearable
-4 Hidden Car Features That You Probably Didn't Know Existed
So the rumors are true and the potato hack actually works. It saved me from a lot fo work scraping the glass and did not leave as much sticky residue behind as I expected. However, I probably will not be doing it again unless I am desperate. It is just easier to use a spray or throw a cover over the windshield. Stay warm out there and maybe save the potatoes for dinner instead of your car.
Bliss Donahue-Power
