MISTED windscreens are a common problem in the colder winter months and can be very dangerous for drivers – or anyone on the road.
As the temperatures begin to drop, it’s essential for motorists to be aware of how to get rid of condensation on their car windows.
Whether it’s foggy, icy or simply dirty, driving with your vision obscured could land you a hefty fine of a staggering £2,500 and three penalty points, reported The Express.
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 and the Highway Code state that “windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision”.
A common problem for millions of motorists around the world, condensation occurs when the temperature inside the car is different from outside.
When it becomes chilly overnight, and the temperature outside plummets, the inside of your car stays slightly warmer.
This means that when the cold and warmer air meet, the water vapour in the air turns to water, causing condensation to form on your windows.
With winter now here, hundreds of drivers have been taking to social media to seek advice on how to tackle the dangerous issue, and amongst them is also Mrs Hinch fan Lynn Osborne.
Desperate for advice, the driver explained that she had tried several methods to keep condensation at bay – but with no luck.
Posting on the popular Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips page, Lynn wrote: ”I get a lot of condensation inside my car. I have used vatious [various] cloths and microfibre flannels but nothing works very well.
”Can you recommend a good product to soak up the water please?”
Luckily for Lynn, from West Yorkshire, her post was soon inundated with dozens of responses from fellow motorists who flooded to rescue.
There was a mixed bag of responses, ranging from using a sock filled with cat litter to ensuring there is no leak, however, one suggestion proved to be more popular than any other – snapping up a mini dehumidifier.
One person wrote: ”Yes I use those disposable dehumidifiers.”
Someone else agreed, commenting: ”Try a disposable dehumidifier you can pick up in poundshop.”
Condensation is water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
Condensation occurs when:
Air cools
Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air. When moist air touches a cold surface, like a window, the water vapour in the air turns into liquid water droplets.
Windows are colder than walls
Windows are often colder than insulated walls, so condensation is more likely to occur on them.
Windows are poorly insulated
Poorly insulated windows can lead to condensation, especially if they are made of aluminium, which conducts heat quickly. If left untreated, it can lead to mould and other serious problems.
”£1.00 Dehumidifier,” a third added, with another shopper saying they’d snapped up the winter must-have from Tesco.
A winter staple for many drivers and households, a dehumidifier works ”by drawing air from the room over a coil cooled to a very low temperature by a refrigeration system”, explained the experts at the Breathing Space.
The water vapour then condenses on the cold surface and the water drips into the collection bucket underneath.
Those looking to get their hands on the gadget can buy a pack of 12 Ambient Air Interior Dehumidifiers for £9.48 from Home Bargains – which works out to be just 79p per each mini dehumidifier.
Great to remove damp air and improve air quality, this Home Bargains find will also make your vehicle smell great, as it comes in three gorgeous scents – vanilla, cherry and lavender.
