One of the things I hate the most about autumn and winter is clearing condensation from the inside of my car windows. Sometimes you just need to get away in a hurry, and it’s an unpleasant job that never seems to go away.

It’s really important we do get this mist off though, because driving away with fogged-up windows is, obviously, very dangerous – and it could land you with hefty fines if you’re caught. The condensation forms when the temperature inside your car is higher than the temperature outside. Generally, it occurs overnight since the temperature outside is lower.

Without getting too technical, warm air from inside the car meets your windows, cools, and condenses, turning water vapour into actual water. Which sticks. But there are ways you can not only get rid of it quickly, but you can also take a few steps to help prevent it from forming in the first place – or at least minimise it. Here are my tips.

Prevention is better than cure

Firstly, if you feel like your car is misting up on the inside more than it should, there are a few things you should be checking. The condensation is caused by moisture, so check your carpets are dry first of all. If they’re not, you have a leak and you need to fix this.

Some cars have drain points beneath the windscreen – they’re usually accessible from under the bonnet, and these can get clogged up, causing water to well up. If that happens, it’s easy for the moisture to have an effect. Clearing the drain holes can be an unpleasant job, but it can also be fairly quick and easy.

It could also be worth checking your cabin filters are dry. Most cars, particularly more modern cars, will have at least one filter between the outside air and the cabin so, if you can find them and access them, just give them a quick prod. A soggy filter will easily cause condensation.

Also, make sure there are no wet items in your car. Dog covers can be a culprit at this time of year, as can the soggy coat and boots you took off and lobbed in the boot after your last walk. Pound to a penny they won’t have dried overnight.

If your car is a convertible with a fabric roof, this can be a quick cause of condensation too. Give it a good wash, and treat it with a fabric sealant of some sort. Here’s the one I use. If applied correctly, this will make the water bead up instead of soak in.

Another simple rule to follow is to keep your windows clean. Moisture loves sticking to dirty glass, so a quick polish every now and again will pay dividends.

Let your car do the hard work for you

Depending on how much moisture is on your windows, you might find your car has all the tools you need to get them cleared. But it’s important to use them effectively.

If you’re lucky, you may have a heated windscreen. Definitely use that. If not, use the windscreen setting on your car’s heating or climate control system and turn it up to the max. As the car warms up, the heat in the cabin will increase and your windows will start to demist.

Importantly, make sure it’s not on recirculation mode and, if you have air conditioning, use it. It’ll make the job much quicker.

Remember though, if you’re in the car, your breath will be adding to the moisture. So consider waiting outside until you can see the heating doing its job.

Products you can buy to help prevent condensation from building up

Dehumidifier bags

These little pouches are fairly cheap, innocuous and reusable. They can also be very effective. This pair on Amazon comes with anti-slip pads and they’re a pretty good price for a pair.

Simply place one on your dashboard and keep an eye on it. When the blue circle turns pink, the crystals inside the pouch have absorbed all the moisture they can. And then you can renew it in the microwave and pop it back on the dashboard.

I find having two handy, because you can bung a fresh one in while the other one’s drying out.

It’s worth pointing out, if you’re feeling the January pinch, that a bowl of cat litter will do a similar job. Just remember to remove it before you set off for work!

Rain-X Anti Fog

I apply this to the inside of all my windscreens and it’s marvellous stuff. It doesn’t stop the condensation forming, but it does make the inside of your windscreen water repellent, to some extent. And that’s great for stopping the mist forming on the glass.

It can be a bit tricky to apply properly, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you get through a bottle, but it’s really effective. It’s also good on mirrors and other windows in the car.

Quick fixes: The tools I use to clear the windscreen more quickly

A good demisting pad

Sometimes you’re in a hurry to get away in the morning, and the 10 minutes it could take for your car to warm up and clear its windows is just too long.

Obviously, even just an old towel or some kitchen roll will wipe the windscreen pretty quickly, but a good demisting pad is a handy thing to keep in the glove box.

I prefer a microfibre pad like this one, but some people go for chamois leather. Either way, once you’re done with it, get it out of the car – because it will stay damp in the cabin and that could be a quick way to fog up your windows all over again the next time you use it.

A window vac

This is one of my favourite gadgets. There is honestly no quicker way to remove condensation from the inside of your windows. Just turn it on and suck it all up. You’re done in seconds. In fact, the windows will clear so quickly they may fog up again, because your car’s cabin won’t have got up to temperature yet. So don’t get complacent and just drive off until you know you’ve won the battle.

A good quality window vac will cost you upwards of £40. There are cheaper ones, and I’ve tried them, but I’ve found they have a tendency to spring leaks, which isn’t fun.

A great bonus with these marvellous tools is that you can use them to clean windows quickly in your house. Give them a spray of window-cleaning solution, wipe it up and down with the window vac, and thank me later.