Four hacks for a clear windscreen: Demister tips and tricks

In the colder months, they do their best to ruin our mornings, make us late or, worse, turn our wintry, wet commutes sketchy – even dangerous.

We scramble to clear them by turning the fan from low to high to low again; directing the vents to the window, to the floor, to the window; opening the windows, closing the windows; hot air, cold air; whatever! Why can’t the fog just fog off?

You might wonder: Is there a faster way to get rid of the fog? To avoid it in the first place, do I have to go out and buy special de-fog coatings from automotive stores? Yes, and no. Thanks to the internet, here are some DIY hacks – cheap and cheerful, of course – to demist your days.

Cat litter, especially the kind that has silica in it – often with the word ‘crystal’ in its name – is super absorbent and will draw some of the moisture out of that warm air. The process is easy: get a sock and fill it with cat litter. Ta-da! This can be messy, though, so stretch the sock over a roll of tape or an egg ring from the kitchen. Once it’s full, tie it off and place it on your car’s dash.

Steal your dad’s. Use your own. Borrow your neighbour’s. It’s crazy, but true: shaving foam works as an anti-fog coating.

Apply a small amount to a cloth and rub it on the inside of a clean windscreen. Don’t cake it on – simply rub it across thinly and evenly, sparingly, so that the windscreen is still perfectly clear. This fine layer of foam will work just as well as over-the-counter anti-fog sprays.

Mix together one cup of boiling water, two tablespoons of vinegar and ten drops of essential oil. When the concoction cools, pour it into a spray bottle and keep the bottle, along with a lint-free cloth – like a microfibre – in your car. Spray and wipe when required. Your car will smell great, too!

The day will come and it will be a foggy one. You’ll be out of homemade spray, cat litter and shaving cream. You might still need to rely on your air vents and air conditioner.

Here’s the best method:

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