Defrosting windscreens with leftover pumpkin in a 'gamechanger', car experts say

01 November 2023 , 11:32

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Don't throw away your leftover pumpkins just yet! (Image: Getty Images)

Carving pumpkins is an important part of the Halloween tradition, with approximately 24 million of them sold in the UK each year to add to the excitement of the scary celebrations. But what to do with your carved lantern once the spooky season is over?

While some people like to use the leftovers in their cooking - be it pumpkin soup, pies, or cookies. But the taste isn't for everyone, so what other options are out there?

It turns out that pumpkins can be especially handy in the cold weather. With the days getting a lot colder lately, UK drivers will be looking for the fastest ways to defrost their windshields - and a team of experts at Motor Match are recommending hanging on to your leftover pumpkins.

The experts told the Daily Star: "When it comes to defrosting your windscreen during the chilly winter months, you might be surprised to find a natural solution right on your window sill. Leftover Halloween pumpkin can be a game-changer.

"The secret lies in the starch content found in pumpkins. Make sure to chop up the skin and rub the inner layer on your windscreen for fast defrosting. Starch acts as a barrier between the ice and the glass, preventing it from refreezing quickly. This means you can spend less time in the cold, scraping away at your windscreen."

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The starch found in vegetables like pumpkin and potato is a natural ice-melting agent. And when it is applied to your frost-covered windscreen, it can help break down the ice, and make scraping it off much easier. It's a simple and cost-effective method that can make your winter mornings run more smoothly. You just need to remember to keep some leftover pumpkin aside for those frosty days!

It comes after the Woodland Trust pleaded with the public not to leave their pumpkins outside after Halloween. "For those of us who want to help local wildlife, leaving Halloween pumpkins in the woods as a tasty treat seems like a sustainable way to dispose of them," the charity explains on its website.

"But they can make hedgehogs and other woodland animals seriously ill and upset the sensitive soils that trees need to grow. Please don't leave pumpkins in our woods." Instead the charity recommends making a pumpkin bird feeder for your garden, so it doesn't go to waste, while not causing harm to animals like hedgehogs. They also suggest using the leftovers in recipes, or putting it in your compost heap.

Gemma Strong