Drivers urged to put tea bags in cars before Thursday

Drivers across the UK are being urged to put used tea bags inside their cars before Thursday as snow and ice is forecast.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice affecting parts of Scotland and has warned that wintry conditions will strike more widely across the UK in the first week of 2026. The national forecaster has said that unsettled weather will arrive as we head into the New Year, which begins this Thursday, with temperatures forecast to plummet over the coming days. An amber cold health alert is currently in force for the North East and North West, while a yellow alert covers Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West.

The cold temperatures heading into the New Year mean drivers are likely to wake up to a layer of condensation on their car windows this week. It forms 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.

The colder the outside temperature is, the more dramatic the temperature drop when warm air hits the glass, which leads to fogging. Condensation and fogging can take a while to clear, which can be very frustrating ahead of a morning commute, but there is a simple remedy you can use to tackle the problem – and all you need is some used tea bags.

Used tea bags – particularly used black and green tea bags – are very effective at reducing condensation and dampness inside cars becuase the tea leaves contain substances that are naturally absorbant. As such, they can be used to draw excess moisture from the air and essentially act as a natural dehumidifier which can prove particularly useful on freezing cold mornings.

Currently, a snow and ice warning has been issued from 6am on Thursday, January 1, until 23.59pm on Friday, January 2, covering parts of Scotland, with up to 10cm of snow forecast to accumulate by Friday morning.

The cold, snowy and icy conditions will make driving conditons dangerous and drivers are likely to find they're waking up to damp, misty and potentially frozen windscreens when the winty weather strikes from Thursday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the New Year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.

“Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.

“A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption.

“These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the New Year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely. It looks like this cold spell will last through at least the first week of January, so it’s important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.”

To help tackle this, experts recommend placing some used tea bags, or small bowls of loose tea, around the inside of your car, such as on the dashboard or in the door pockets. Doing so can lower the risk of condensation forming on windscreens, which in turn helps drivers avoid being handed a fine of up to £2,500.

The Highway Code says drivers should always completely demist their windows before setting off and condensation can obstruct this, and if you try to drive with an obscured view you could be fined up to £2,500 and get penalty points on your licence, especially if it leads to an accident.

Ben Pitcher, motoring specialist at DPF Experts, says tea bags are a great solution to this problem as they’re naturally absorbent, cheap and likely already knocking around in your kitchen cupboard.

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 able to absorb moisture that can form when the temperature inside a car is different to that outside and, as an added bonus, it can also improve the smell of your vehicle. Tea bags can absorb and neutralise unpleasant odours, leaving your car smelling much fresher with very little effort.

Pitcher also says packets of silica gel, which is commonly found in packaging for things like shoes, electronics and food items, can also have a similar effect and will help to clear car windscreens in the morning when condensation is most common.

He adds: "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."