Drivers across the UK are being urged to put used washing up liquid and white vinegar in their cars this week as a bout of cold weather is forecast. The Met Office has issued 17-hour yellow weather warnings for snow on Tuesday, affecting parts of Scotland and northern England, with up to 5cm forecast to fall fairly widely and as much as 20cm at elevations over 500 metres. The national forecaster has warned that colder air in northern parts of the country will turn heavy rain to snow, which could lead to travel disruption and power cuts in some areas on Tuesday. Elsewhere, several amber and yellow weather warnings for rain and wind are in force on Monday and Tuesday as Storm Chandra brings unsettled conditions to large swathes of the country.
The weather warnings coincide with cold weather alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for northern areas of England, which are in force from now until Friday. So with the unsettled wintry weather forecast to last throughout the week, it means drivers not only face hazardous conditions on the roads from spray, possible flooding and snow, the cold temperatures also bring another problem in the form of condensation.
Condensation forms when warm, moist air inside the car meets the cold surface of the glass, causing water vapour to condense and form droplets, and this tends to be more pronounced in winter or in bouts of very cold weather.
The colder the outside temperature is, the more dramatic the temperature drop when warm air hits the glass, which leads to fogging.
Condensation and fogging can take a while to clear, which can be very frustrating ahead of a morning commute, but there is a simple remedy you can use to tackle the problem – and all you need is some washing up liquid and white vinegar.
According to experts, spraying car windows with a solution of white vinegar and water creates a protective barrier that prevents moisture from settling and thereby reduces condensation.
Experts at Loco Windows Fascias said: “A home-made solution is a great way to deal with condensation on windows. You will need a mixture of two cups of white vinegar and two cups of water. You can use a spray bottle to apply the solution to the window or you can simply wipe it on. Then let it dry with a soft cloth.”
But to increase the effectiveness of the solution, some experts recommend adding a few drops of washing up liquid to the mix. Washing up liquid contains surfactants which reduces the surface tension of the glass, making it harder for warm, moist air to condense into water droplets.
So instead of forming a layer of water, the washing up liquid essentially creates a barrier that prevents water droplets clinging to the glass and causes moisture to remain in the air, or be more easily wiped away.
Experts at Cardiff Window Cleaner Ltd explain: “A great way to clear away condensation and prevent it from coming back is by mixing a homemade solution.
“Simply mix two cups of water and two cups of white vinegar, then add a couple of drops of dish washing soap. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and spray it straight onto your window.
“White vinegar creates a protective barrier, and soap breaks down the surface tension of the droplets on your window. We suggest using a spray bottle to create a very thin protective cover, which will dry up by itself.”
Experts say this method is best used in combination with other settings in your car, including using your air conditioning and your heater, as well as opening windows to promote air flow and using dehumidifying products like packets of silica gel - or used tea bags - to absorb excess moisture from the air.