Haven’t got around to buying an ice scraper yet? However tempted you may be to use an alternative to scrap the ice off your car, here are some tools you should not use because they will scratch the glass, making it more difficult to see properly and more likely for the glass to eventually chip and crack:

• spatulas

• credit cards

• magazines

• CD cases

• hot kettles or other sources of steam

• metal tools

• fingernails

If you don’t have an ice scrapper on hand, the best thing you can do is to wipe the ice and snow off the car with a piece of clothing and then drive or push the car to a warmer place to allow the ice to melt.