It was one of those winter nights where the air felt like needles against your skin. I was heading home after a long shift, exhausted and just wanting to be in front of my heater. My old sedan was struggling; the heater was barely blowing, and the interior of my car felt like a damp cave.
Suddenly, I saw the blue and red lights flashing in my rearview mirror. My heart sank. I pulled over, wondering what I could have possibly done wrong.
When the officer walked up to my window, he didn’t ask for my license right away. Instead, he shone his flashlight on my windshield and frowned.
“Son,” he said, “you can barely see out of there. Your windows are completely fogged up. It’s a safety hazard.”
He was right. I had been leaning forward, squinting through a tiny clear patch I’d rubbed away with my sleeve. I explained that my defroster was broken and I was just trying to get home. Instead of reaching for his ticket book, he reached into his memory for a trick he’d learned years ago.
The “Salt Trick” for Every Driver
He told me something I’ll never forget: “Go home, find an old glass or a plastic container, fill it with salt, and leave it in your cup holder.”
I was confused. Salt? For what? He explained that salt isn’t just for seasoning food; it is a powerful desiccant, meaning it naturally absorbs moisture from the air.
How It Works
If you struggle with “steamy” windows or interior frost during the colder months, here is why that glass of salt is a game-changer:
- Moisture Absorption: Excess humidity inside the car is what causes windows to fog up. The salt (Sodium Chloride) pulls that moisture out of the air before it can settle on your glass.
- Preventing Interior Ice: On freezing nights, the moisture inside your car can turn into a layer of ice on the inside of your windshield. Salt prevents this build-up.
- Eliminating Odors: Dampness often leads to that “musty” car smell. By keeping the air dry, the salt helps keep your car smelling fresh.
How to Do It Right
The officer told me that for the best results, you don’t need a fancy setup. A simple open container of table salt or rock salt works perfectly. However, if you’re worried about spills, you can put the salt in a sock and tie it off, then place it on your dashboard or under the seat.
The Result
I followed his advice that night. The next morning, I walked out to my car expecting the usual struggle with a fogged-up interior. Instead, the air inside felt crisp and dry, and the windows were crystal clear.
It’s a simple, five-cent solution to a problem that causes thousands of accidents every winter. I didn’t get a ticket that night; I got a lesson in physics that has made every winter drive safer since.