How to Quickly Defog Your Windshield

Tips for quickly defogging your windshield

Few things can be more dangerous as a driver than trying to maneuver around with a foggy windshield and/or window. Fortunately, there are ways to counteract this issue and help prevent the chances of it happening in the future. Read ahead to learn more:

Why do cars fog up?

Simply put, cars fog up when there’s too much moisture in the vehicle. This could come from heavy breathing, a hot coffee cooling off, wet clothes from the rain or snow or even hot food like a pizza.
When there’s too much moisture in the air, it condenses on the glass, causing your windows to fog up and make it more difficult to see out of as a driver.

How to defrost in the summer

While foggy windows aren’t quite as common in the summer as they are during the colder months, they can still become blurred, particularly if it’s humid outside or raining.
After using your wipers to temporarily remove the fog, you should turn up your car’s temperature slightly to ensure the problem doesn’t persist. If that doesn’t help much, you should redirect your car’s vents away from the windshield.

How to defrost in the winter

Since warm air holds more moisture than cold air, your windshield and windows typically fog up more easily in the winter since the temperature outside is often much colder.
While it may not be fun to sit in colder temperatures, turning on your air conditioning will make the air in your vehicle drier, which will in turn help to defog your windshield. Cracking a window slightly will also have a similar effect if your A/C isn’t working.
Although it may seem counterintuitive given that you’re working to cool your interior, turning on the heat will actually help to absorb moisture. Blasting your heat and the A/C simultaneously will likely give you the best result.

Keep your windshield clean

Your windshield will be tough to see out of when it is foggy, so any additional dirt or smudge marks on it will make seeing the road ahead that much more difficult. If you want, you can also buy anti-fogging products for your vehicle’s windshield and windows, although they may not be completely necessary. It really all depends on how cautious you want to be.

Shake off water

Another good habit is to make sure to shake off any water prior to getting into your vehicle. This means kicking your boots or shaking your umbrella and or coat before entering your car. It may not seem like a big deal, but it can make a difference.

Know your vehicle

Ultimately, it’s important to have a strong grasp of your car’s fan speed and heat settings so you can de-fog as quickly as possible. You don’t want to wait until you’re driving in the morning on a cold and slippery day to figure this stuff out.