Here’s why British motorists are being advised to pour washing-up liquid into their cars this winter

British drivers are talking about washing-up liquid again. The tip looks simple, pour a drop, banish mist, hit the road. Yet experts shout caution, the hack can cost more than a round of Munich helles!

Here’s why washing-up liquid lands inside cars this winter

Freezing dawns mean steamed-up glass. A fingertip of detergent wiped across the windscreen breaks the surface tension of water, so vapour slides away instead of turning into fog. One swipe, and the cabin feels as clear as a sunny piazza in Naples.

Condensation hack or kitchen myth?

Drivers swear it works in seconds. A thin film on a microfiber towel, no more. Rub, wait, watch the glass stay crystal. Sounds a bit like sprinkling sugar on fresh Krapfen: good if done light, a mess if overdone.

The hidden cost: wax stripped, paint cracked, mould invited

Ben Custard, Motorpoint detailing specialist, waves a red flag. Standard dish soap contains salt and degreasers. Great for fatty plates, ruthless on automotive wax. Repeated use erodes the protective layer, leaves lacquer dull, sometimes flaky. Re-spraying a single panel in 2025 still hits £300, roughly the price of two Oktoberfest tables.

Inside the cockpit, things turn damp. Too much liquid, water pools in door pockets, warm air can’t escape, spores grow. No one wants a mushroom aroma on the morning commute.

Clean smart, keep the shine

The two-bucket method stays undefeated. One bucket with warm shampoo foam, the other plain water for rinsing the mitt. Straight strokes from roof to bumper, never circular, rinse often, dry with plush towels. A four-pound pH-neutral shampoo lasts months and keeps the deep gloss, exactly like good olive oil protects a Caprese salad.

DIY wash or pro valet? Counting the pennies in 2025

A survey of 2,000 UK motorists shows 42 % pay for professional cleans. Average ticket £15 means more than £210 a year, nearly the cost of a weekend in Munich’s Altstadt with pretzels and pils. Swapping to home kits saves cash fast: £6 noodle mitt, £4 shampoo, £3.50 glass wipes, reused all winter.

Scroll-stopping hacks that bite back

Social feeds flood with lemon juice, baking soda, even cola tutorials. None carry warranty. If upholstery stains, replacement trim skyrockets, and resale value sinks like a stone in the Isar. Better lean on products tested for paint chemistry, add a hint of Bavarian pragmatism, and keep the creativity for the kitchen.

Bottom line : one tiny dab of washing-up liquid on glass can rescue a frosty school run. Pouring the bottle over bodywork? That’s just asking for trouble, and nobody wants to toast the New Year by paying for fresh paint.

Élisabeth-Sophie Bonicel

At 38, I am a proud and passionate geek. My world revolves around comics, the latest cult series, and everything that makes pop culture tick. On this blog, I open the doors to my ‘lair’ to share my top picks, my reviews, and my life as a collector