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7 Quick Ways to Get Rid of a Foggy Windshield

June 20th, 2020 by

7 Quick Ways to Get Rid of a Foggy Windshield

A foggy windshield limits your visibility and makes it nearly impossible to drive safely. Thankfully, there are things you can do to eliminate a foggy windshield instantly.

What Causes a Foggy Windshield?

Several factors can contribute to a foggy windshield, such as:

1. Temperature

Temperature differences between your car's interior and exterior can lead to moisture build-up inside your vehicle's windshield, which increases the risk of a foggy windshield inside your car.

2. Dirty Windshield

Dirt, debris, and other particles can accumulate on your windshield. Meanwhile, moisture particles are more prone to stick to a dirty surface than a clean one. The result: a dirty car windshield can lead to a foggy windshield outside your car.

3. Mechanical Issues

A cabin filter is a common feature in cars built after 2000. The filter collects pollen, dust, and other contaminants and helps regulate air quality inside your vehicle. Your car's heat and air conditioner also filter through the cabin filter.

Excess debris inside of a cabin filter can impact the performance of your car's defroster. In this instance, excess debris can lower air quality in your vehicle, and your windshield becomes susceptible to condensation that results in fog.

How to Get Rid of a Foggy Windshield in Cold Temperatures

There are no one-size-fits-all instructions to explain how to fix a foggy windshield when the temperature outside your car is lower than the temperature inside your vehicle. In this situation, there are several steps you may need to take to quickly get rid of a foggy windshield, including:

1. Turn Up the Heat

Set your car's heat to the maximum level. Hot air holds more moisture than cold air, so cranking up the heat will help collect moisture that contributes to a foggy windshield.

2. Activate the Air Conditioner

Turn off your car's heater, then activate the air conditioner. This helps pull moisture from the air as it moves over the air conditioner's cooling coils.

3. Stop Air Recirculation

Turn off your car's recirculation button. This allows cold, dry air to enter your vehicle.

4. Open the Windows

Crack your car windows open slightly for a few minutes. This helps combine humid air inside your car and cold, dry air outside your vehicle to remove fog from your windshield.

How to Get Rid of a Foggy Windshield in Warm Temperatures

When you experience a foggy windshield in warm temperatures, it means that the moisture level and temperature outside your car exceed those inside your vehicle. Thus, to eliminate a foggy windshield in warm temperatures, you need to increase the moisture level and temperature inside your car. In this scenario, here's what you need to do:

1. Activate the Windshield Wipers

Use your car's windshield wipers to remove condensation from the windshield.

2. Deactivate the Air Conditioner

Turn down the air conditioner in your car, or turn it off entirely. This allows you to increase your car's temperature without causing you to feel too hot inside your vehicle.

3. Avoid Air Recirculation

Keep your car's air recirculation button off. This helps ensure that your car's moisture level and temperature will soon match those outside your vehicle.

Tips to Prevent a Foggy Windshield

Some of the best ways to prevent a foggy windshield include:

1. Use an Ammonia-Based Window Cleaner

An ammonia-based window cleaner can help you remove build-up inside your windshield. So, you can apply an ammonia-based window cleaner to the interior of your windshield. Use horizontal or vertical strokes to apply the window cleaner, and re-apply the cleaner to your windshield's interior regularly.

2. Apply Shaving Cream to Your Windshield's Interior

Use a dry, clean towel to wipe shaving cream across your windshield's interior, then use a second towel to remove the shaving cream from the windshield. This creates a protective film on the inside of your windshield that helps prevent fogging.

3. Activate the Defroster When You Warm Up Your Car

Turn on your car's defroster any time you warm up your vehicle. If you use a remote starter to warm up your car on cold mornings, set the defroster the night before so you can remove fog from your windshield.

4. Use Fresh Air Mode

Ensure your car's heater or air conditioner is set on fresh air mode, not the recirculate setting. Otherwise, your vehicle may reuse humid or moist air, which increases the risk of windshield fog.

5. Keep a Car Window Open

Keeping even a single window of your car slightly open can help prevent your windshield from fogging up.

6. Wipe Your Shoes Before You Enter Your Car

Use a dry rag to remove any snow or wet dew from your shoes before you get into your car. This helps reduce the amount of moisture in your car, thereby lowering your risk of experiencing a foggy windshield.

7. Get Your Car's HVAC System Inspected

A malfunctioning heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can make it difficult to remove fog from your windshield. If you notice your windshield fogging up when you activate your car's defroster, take your vehicle to an auto body repair shop. That way, auto body repair shop professionals can inspect your car's HVAC system and perform any repairs.

A foggy windshield creates dangerous driving conditions for you and other motorists. But, if you use the aforementioned tips, you can quickly get rid of a foggy windshield inside and outside your car.

This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Daly City a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the neighborhoods of South San Francisco and the surrounding area.