Drivers urged to spray windows with vinegar this autumn

Drivers across the UK are being urged to spray their windows with white vinegar this autumn to help prevent condensation.

During the autumn season, waking up to find a layer of water dripping down your windows is a common sight and one that plagues both your house and your vehicle. Condensation is caused when warm air inside your car comes into contact with the cold surface of your windows. This difference in temperature then causes the water vapour in the air to cool quickly and form tiny droplets on the glass, which can appear as fog or mist.

This generally happens overnight when the temperature outside is lower and means you have to spend time clearing it in the morning before you can hit the road. But you can save yourself the hassle of battling condensation in the colder months simply by spraying your windows with a white vinegar solution.

While vinegar doesn’t have any moisture-absorbing properties, it can help to prevent moisture from building up on your windows, reducing the amount of condensation that forms as a result.

According to experts, spraying windows with a solution of white vinegar and water creates a protective barrier that prevents moisture from settling and thereby reducing condensation.

It’s a cheap solution to the problem and it will also clean your windows in the process, but the solution will need to be reapplied frequently.

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.

A spokesperson from BigWantsYourCar.com, specialists in car valuation, added: “A fogged-up windscreen might not seem serious, but legally, any obstruction to your view of the road is enough to land you with a fine.

“It’s not just a winter problem. Autumn nights are cold and damp, and condensation can build up within minutes of setting off.”