Condensation in car - cat litter fix..?

RainbowsInTheSpray

I've heard that keeping a box (with air holes) of cat litter inside your car can greatly reduce condensation build-up. Can anyone comment from actual experience?

Woodstok2000

Is it worth the risk of cats pooing in your car?

Bigwheels1111

I’m having the same issue, well every winter that is.
It was so bad a few weeks back that the inside of my windscreen was frozen.
Worse than the outside.

I used a window vac and after a few days there was a little less each day.
First nice day I cleaned the car, hoovered, cleaned the windows etc.
Then put a new set of these in, 
Tanness Car Dehumidifier Bag- 1Kg (4-Pack), no stock now.

https://www.diy.com/departments/tanness-car-dehumidifier-bag-1kg-4-pack-reusable-moisture-absorber-with-anti-slip-pads-essential-car-accessory-rechargeable/5059059058963_BQ.prd


Plus 4 of these from Poundland.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01N4PRGIG/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=99d683e68bb1284166d69693ba6f48bd&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1767041269&sr=1-1-1ee1b2e4-01d1-4cd0-b737-4c27ebfc8105&aref=6DhYCQufcY&ref_=sbx__sbtcd2_asin_0_img&pd_rd_w=EPGaO&content-id=amzn1.sym.9876bbdd-9022-4c22-b69a-35e36d419a87%3Aamzn1.sym.9876bbdd-9022-4c22-b69a-35e36d419a87&pf_rd_p=9876bbdd-9022-4c22-b69a-35e36d419a87&pf_rd_r=PX8F42T5D4GBFF74C171&pd_rd_wg=4wJCR&pd_rd_r=b5caaa59-b39d-45b2-8ad7-f1ae1be35494&th=1


It’s been ok so far.
Mot been to cold yet.
Plus I use a quality screen cover.

Emmia

My first car had a condensation problem, I fixed it with a couple of Acana Moisture absorbers wedged under the front seats - they're sealed so no risk of spillage of the contents.

These ones, which I think are fairly widely available on Amazon, Robert Dyas etc.

https://www.johnlewis.com/acana-moisture-absorber-freshener-x-2-bundle/p240085353?s_share=jlappdroid

MikeJXE

I use a couple of these, very effective 

Mr.Generous

When was the cabin (pollen) filter last changed? A blocked filter is always a likely cause. 

On the cat litter front as an added bonus, if you find a cat somewhere caught short you can step in ...

leosayer

If the condensation is really bad then you've probably got a water leak somewhere. 

Check for sitting water in the lowest point of the cabin eg. under the carpets and in the spare wheel well.

The causes are normally things like a blocked drain hole or a perished seal on a window or light fitting.

facade

I have a mountain of desiccant bags in my Citroen.  When the windscreen starts misting up overnight I have to dry them, and there is usually around 1kg of water between them.

This year seems worse than last year, it must be the warmer damper weather*. Once we get regular ground frosts the humidity drops and there is much less of a problem.

I do notice that when the bags are losing effectiveness that the condensation appears directly above the dash vents, making me think that the wind is pushing damp air into the car through the ventilation system even when it is off.

I don't have any water leaks- I had a Nissan Note before, and that leaked like a sieve that someone had punched fist sized holes in, so I know what to look for!

The point of the desiccant is to stop any mould forming and making the car smell.

The desiccant bags in the Suzuki also seem to be filling up much more quickly this year.

* I suppose if it ever warms up I ought to pull the decking off under the wipers and see if the heater intake is filling up with rainwater or something

shera12

Yes, it actually does help. A few people (myself included) have tried it and it can reduce condensation, especially in damp weather. It’s not a miracle fix, but it definitely makes a difference.
Just make sure it’s non-clumping litter and keep it in a breathable container.

Grumpy_chap

We have used PINGUs in the past.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pingi-LV-A300-Dehumidifier-Car-Home/dp/B00I3VKBJS/?th=1

IOWJJBTM2025

One of our old cars had poor seals on the side door windows. Every time it rained water ran down the glass and into the middle of the door. I purchased a seal kit off ebay to replace - not a quick job as I had to remove the internal door trim and remove the window glass to get access. I also cleaned out the inside of the door so that any water would drain out. One door had an inch of water in the bottom and the drain was blocked.
We used to have dehumidifiers on our window ledges that we put in the microwave to recharge. They were pink and turned blue when full. Cat litter would work but would be a pain to dispose of.