Drivers urged to put used tea bags in cars to | Tech News

Drivers are being urged to put used tea bags inside their cars as it could possibly help scale back the risk of accidents and fines of up to £2,500

Tea bags – significantly used black and inexperienced tea bags – are very efficient at decreasing condensation and dampness inside cars. The tea leaves comprise substances that draw moisture from the air to allow them to primarily be used as a natural dehumidifier, which is especially helpful on cold mornings. The final frost in the UK typically doesn’t happen till mid-May and with the Met Office forecasting colder temperatures over this bank vacation weekend, together with thundery showers, drivers could discover they’re nonetheless waking up to damp and misty windscreens.

But this downside might be prevented just by inserting some used tea bags, or small bowls of free tea, across the inside of your car, similar to on the dashboard or in the door pockets.

Doing so can decrease the risk of condensation forming on windscreens, which in flip can help drivers keep away from being handed a positive of up to £2,500.

The Highway Code says drivers ought to all the time fully demist their home windows earlier than setting off and condensation can impede this, and should you strive to drive with an obscured view you possibly can be fined up to £2,500 and get penalty factors in your licence, particularly if it leads to an accident.

Ben Pitcher, motoring specialist at DPF Experts, says tea bags are a great resolution to this downside as they’re naturally absorbent, low-cost and sure already knocking round in your kitchen cabinet.

He explains: “Tea bags, especially black or green tea, are natural moisture absorbers. Placing them in your car can help reduce condensation, especially in colder months. Though they aren’t as powerful as professional dehumidifiers, they’re a cheap, eco-friendly solution for tackling minor dampness.”

Green and black tea are ready to take up moisture that may kind when the temperature inside a car is totally different to that exterior and, as an added bonus, it could possibly additionally improve the odor of your vehicle. Tea bags can take up and neutralise disagreeable odours, leaving your car smelling a lot more energizing with little or no effort.

Pitcher additionally says packets of silica gel, which is often discovered in packaging for issues like sneakers, electronics and food objects, can even have a comparable impact and can help to clear car windscreens in the morning when condensation is most common.

He provides: “Silica gel packets, commonly found in packaging, are excellent at absorbing moisture. Collecting a few and placing them around your car can help control condensation. While they won’t clear foggy windows instantly, they can help reduce moisture and keep your windscreen clearer for longer.”