Drivers urged to put bowl of salt in their car this week

One incredibly simple and cheap trick will not only save you from potential fines and points on your license, but will also stop you from spending extra money on expensive car dehumidifiers. It could also help you to avoid the cumbersome routine of having to use your car's heating system to tackle the problem every morning.

Whether it's the school run or making it into to work, not only do fogged-up windows throw a time-consuming spanner in the works. Now, motoring experts are advising drivers to simply leave a bowl of salt overnight to solve the issue once and for all. The tip is being shared just in time as mercury is set to fall early morning on Friday, with lows of 1C in some parts of the country, including Scotland.

While emphasising that driving with foggy windows is not only a safety hazard and could potentially violate the Highway Code, the car leasing experts at LeaseLoco.com say that simply leaving a small bowl of salt overnight "is a clever way to help with this problem.

The salt essentially "absorbs any excess moisture in the air that is making the problem worse".

However, they do warn that while condensation in cars can be normal in cold weather, if it persists when temperatures warm up, this could actually be a sign of other problems, such as leaky seals.

Regardless, the pretty common issue can cause some serious consequences.

Essentially, as temperatures drop and windows get colder, warm, humid air from inside the car combines with the cold exterior, making the problem often unavoidable. Even leaving wet clothes and umbrellas in the car can contribute to the problem, but table salt, with its hygroscopic properties, acts as a cheap and natural dehumidifier.

The legal lowdown is that drivers who don't clear their windows of condensation risk breaking the Highway Code. The rules state that "you MUST be able to see". Apart from ensuring that all lights are clean and number plates are visible, mirrors must be clear, and windows must be thoroughly demisted.

Luckily, the positively charged sodium ions in salt are great at binding to the negatively charged oxygen in water molecules, which is why you'll often see salt clumping up in humid weather.

Natalie Wood, who tried and tested her own DIY version of the salt trick, shared in a Facebook Car Camping group that she fully prefers this "practical and cost-effective solution instead of keeping the engine running just to clear the fog".

Finding it simple, efficient, and eco-friendly, she wrote, "Thanks to the person who shared this clever tip! With just 1 kilogram of coarse salt placed inside a cotton bag, I’ve completely solved the problem of windshield condensation during winter. The coarse salt naturally absorbs moisture from the air, preventing fog from forming inside the car.”

To avoid any risk of dashboard corrosion, place the cotton bag on an aluminium plate or a plastic support. This protects your car’s interior, especially in case the bag gets accidentally wet.

Others have even tried using cat litter in old socks and stockings or reusable silica car dehumidifier bags.