How can I prevent my car windscreen from misting up?

When I set off in my Hyundai i20 on a cold day the windscreen steams up and takes ages to clear. What can I do?
YR, Rugeley, Staffordshire

First, clean the inside of the screen with water and washing-up liquid to remove the traffic film (exhaust fumes drawn in by the heater that settle on the glass). The film attracts moisture, increasing condensation. Polish the screen dry with kitchen roll or microfibre cloth.

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Next, make sure the floor mats are dry and don’t leave wet items, such as umbrellas, in the car overnight. To clear condensation quickly, turn the heater to demist and turn on the air-conditioning, which will dry the air as well as cooling it. It may be that your air-con needs topping up.

TIM’LL FIX IT
Tim Shallcross used to train AA patrols to fix cars. Now he advises the Institute of Advanced Motoring — read more from Tim here.

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