Households across the UK are being urged to put washing up liquid in their cars before Thursday as snow, frost and freezing temperatures are forecast. The warmest day of the year so far may have been recorded last week, but the mild spring weather is being replaced this week with a return to colder, wintry conditions.

The Met Office has warned that temperatures will turn much chillier early this week, with colder air becoming established across the whole of the UK on Wednesday. Rain showers are forecast for northern and western areas, turning heavy at times, with some hail and isolated thunder also on the cards. In the colder air, these showers will turn wintry, bringing snow and sleet to higher ground across Scotland and over hills in northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The cold weather will extend into Thursday, when cold air is expected to cause temperatures to drop to or below freezing in many areas, with widespread frost and icy patches likely. Temperatures will return closer to average from Friday, although some rain and blustery winds are expected in the North, southern England, South-west England and Wales.

SFogging can take a frustrating amount of time to clear, which isn't ideal when you need to get going in the morning, but luckily, there is a simple remedy you can use to help avoid this problem - and all you need is a bit of washing-up liquid.o with snow, frost and icy conditions forecast this week, drivers are likely to find themselves battling with foggy or potentially frozen windscreens. Condensation and fogging occurs when warm, moist air inside the car meets the cold surface of the glass, causing water vapour to condense and form droplets, and this tends to be more pronounced in winter or in bouts of very cold weather.

Fogging can take a frustrating amount of time to clear, which isn't ideal when you need to get going in a morning, but luckily there is a simple remedy you can use to help avoid this problem - and all you need is a bit of washing up liquid.

According to experts, rubbing a thin layer of washing up liquid onto dry windows inside your car is a cheap and effective way to help prevent condensation forming as the liquid contains surfactants which reduce the surface tension of the glass, making it harder for warm, moist air to condense into water droplets.

Instead of forming a layer of water, the washing-up liquid essentially creates a barrier that prevents water droplets from clinging to the glass and causes moisture to remain in the air, or be more easily wiped away.

In its online advice on preventing condensation on windows, Eco cleaning company Homethings said: "By taking a small drop of washing up liquid and rubbing it into the condensation-prone window with a dry cloth you can completely stop the issue all together.

"The washing-up liquid forms a barrier on the surface of the windows, preventing the water from sticking. So in the space of just a few minutes, you can put a stop to the damp, mould, and mildew that wet windows can cause."

You can pick up a bottle of washing-up liquid at Tesco for just 63p, so it's a really cheap and easy way to tackle this common seasonal problem, but you will need to reapply it regularly as it's not a permanent fix.

As washing-up liquid isn't a permanent solution for stopping condensation, it's best used in combination with other measures in your car. This includes using your air conditioner and heater, opening windows to promote airflow, and using dehumidifying products like silica gel packets to absorb excess moisture from the air.

In its advice on how to use washing up liquid in your car to prevent condensation and fogging, online car parts retailer MicksGarage said: "Take one wet dish cloth, squeeze a good blob of washing up liquid onto it, apply in a circular motion to the whole inside of the screen, then take another clean, dry cloth and gently wipe off.

"The idea is to try and leave some of the washing up liquid on the screen while still getting a dry streak free finish. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results! Apparently shaving foam also works just as well.

"The technique above will greatly reduce the amount of condensation on the inside of your screen but it won't eliminate it altogether, you're still going to need to use the car's demister, but what are the ideal combination of settings you should use? Well let us tell you!"

MicksGarage advises the following:

• Heat on full


• Air con on


• Recirculating air off


• Open windows slightly