The £2 Aldi buy which keeps your drive ice-free as temperatures dip as low as -5C after the Bank Holiday sunny spell
BRITS are bracing for a bonkers weather U-turn as temps nosedive from sun-soaked highs to near-freezing lows.
But this nifty trick will stop you skidding down your driveway in icy conditions.
A £2 product from Aldi will save the day, and it’s all you need to stop your car turning into the North Pole on wheels.
Just after the Met Office recorded the hottest start to May on record, temperatures plummeted to as low as -5C overnight.
Only a few days after the Brits were roasted under 29C sun, motorists all over the country woke up to frosted windscreens this morning.
The Met Office has now warned that freezing winds and a cold spell will sweep across the country over the next few days, leaving sub-zero temperatures in their wake.
Some Brits will be petrified that their drive to work will be ever more perilous, especially with the quickly shifting temperatures increasing the likelihood of sheet ice.
But have no fear, for just a couple of quid should make the roads drivable.
Amazingly, cat litter can be used safely to get your wheels moving.
Indeed, Aldi even has a specific “Lightweight Non-Clumping” edition for just £2.19.
That’s a lot cheaper than the fancy de-icing kit from Screwfix for £9.99.
Super scrimper Alysha even stuffs socks with cat litter, ties the ends and tucks them on her car dashboard.
She told the Sun: “It may sound strange, but it works wonders.
“The cat litter-filled sock stops my car windows from fogging up.
“It costs next to nothing, but it’s brilliant for preventing condensation when it’s cold.”
Alysha really isn’t kitten around, claiming that her litter trick saved her £300 on emergency towing fees.
The trick might come particularly in handy in Altnaharra in Northern Scotland, which saw temperatures drop to -4.7C last night.
Motoring expert Maria McCarthy told the Express: “Spreading cat litter around the wheels is a useful hack for providing traction, or you could use the foot well mats or gather some twigs or gravel.” This applies especially if “you return to your vehicle after it’s been snowing”, when you may find it “more difficult to move off.”
McCarthy continued: “‘You might want to consider getting winter tyres, which have better grip in snow and ice. You can fit the tyres yourself, or ask your garage to do so. When it comes to storing them, some garage chains will send the tyres you’re not currently using off to a ‘tyre hotel’ .”
Tips for driving safely in icy conditions
- Prepare your Car before driving – scrape those windscreen, check those fluid levels including oil, screenwash and break fluid, and top up with some antifreeze
- Keep an Emergency Winter Kit – Breaking Down in sub zero temperatures is dangerous so its worth keeping a torch, first aid kit and some sugary snacks on hand
- Check your Tyres – Sounds simple but most people never do it- if its icy your much more likely to skidaroo
- Drive Smoothly – When driving in ice you have less grip on the road, if you suddenly jerk this is when you start sliding.
- Keep at a distance from other drivers – You need a bigger gap when conditions are worse because it takes longer to break
- Be wary when driving on hills – If possible its best to avoid them in sketchy weather conditions. If absolutely necessary go slow gradually going down the gears and use the side of the wheel as a break in a jam.
- Brake gently – Braking heavily can make tyres lock, which means you are more likely to lose control. Brake more gently than you would in normal conditions.