Have You Ever Used An Onion To Clear Frost From Your Windshield?

If there is one thing that we know about having a frosted windshield, it’s the fact that it is a frustrating situation. We sometimes come out in the morning to find our windshield coated, and if we are in a hurry, we just want a quick solution.

It seems as if there is a relatively quick solution, but you have to think ahead in order to use it. Quite simply, cut an onion in half and rub it on the glass and frost will not be able to stick to it. A potato will do the same thing.

You may be a little skeptical when you hear about this solution, but there is a lot of science behind it. The sugar in the onion keeps the water from freezing as quickly. Essentially, it changes the freezing point of the water so that it doesn’t freeze at 32°F.

As Today puts it, the onion sugar forms a barrier on the window that include some sugar in it. As ice tries to form on the window, the sugar breaks down the molecules’ speed in the melting process. Rub onion on your window and it will be clear of ice and snow the next day.

You might be wondering why you don’t just pour sugar on the window to melt the ice. Actually, sugar doesn’t melt the ice, it raises the freezing point of water because it mixes with it.

When water reaches its freezing point of 32°F, the molecules are lacking in energy so they go into a dormant state. At that point, the molecules are ice.

When you have sugar from an onion (or potato) on the windshield, there is more space between the individual water molecules, helping them to overcome the electrostatic bonds that end up creating solid ice.

As long as you rub the onion on the window before the ice or frost shows up, it can help to keep it from showing up. Once the windshield is frosted, you will have to look for another option to clear it.

Why not try turning on the defrost on high heat and letting your car take care of it?