Drivers across the UK are urged to use white vinegar in their cars this winter to help prevent condensation. The UK had its first taste of wintry weather last week when temperatures plunged to a freezing -11C in some parts of the country, and with December less than a week away, conditions are only going to get colder.
The Met Office has said that cold and frosty conditions are expected early this week, with temperatures forecast to dip as low as -7C in rural parts of Scotland and Wales on Tuesday evening. The cold weather is expected to continue into Wednesday and could bring widespread frost in some parts, which means drivers are likely to wake up to a layer of condensation on their car windows.
Condensation is a common problem during the cold winter months, forming when warm air inside a car meets the cold surface of the glass. This process causes water droplets to form on the windows as the air cools, which can appear as fog or mist.
Condensation tends to form overnight when outside temperatures are lower and the problem is more pronounced in bouts of cold weather, as is on the cards this week.
Fogging can take a frustrating amount of time to clear, but there is a cheap and simple solution you can try to tackle the problem – and all you need is some white vinegar.
According to experts, spraying windows with a solution of white vinegar and water creates a protective barrier that prevents moisture from settling and thereby reduces condensation.
You can pick up a 1.14L bottle of white vinegar for just 65p at Tesco so it’s a cheap solution to the problem and it will also clean your windows in the process, but it will need to be reapplied frequently throughout the winter.
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.”
To increase the effectiveness of the solution, some experts recommend adding a few drops of washing up liquid to the mix as this reduces the surface tension of the water on your window, causing moisture to instead spread into a thin, invisible layer rather than forming droplets.
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 dishwashing 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.”
Failure to clear condensation from your windscreen before setting off could result in a £1,000 fine and three penalty points on your licence, so it’s important to tackle the problem and using white vinegar is a really cheap way to do it.
