What can you do about a fogged windshield?

It’s a frustration of many: a fogged up windshield. But there are things you can do about it. Autobahn lists five tips.

The weather doesn’t seem to have quite figured it out yet, but we’re heading toward winter again. That means lower temperatures, and that means fogged up windshields. Aside from being super irritating, it’s also incredibly dangerous. The last thing you want is to be unable to properly see what’s happening on the road ahead of you. That’s why we’ve listed a few tips for what you can do about fogged up windshields.

1: Turn on the air conditioning

Yes, you read that right, the air conditioner. You might prefer to turn on the heater when it’s freezing cold outside, but in this case that’s not the best option. Windows fog up because there is a difference in humidity between the inside and outside of the car. Air conditioning blows your car full of dry air, making it all more balanced. With that said, make sure the A/C is aimed at the windows and that you use the recirculation mode. This will actually get the moist air out of the car. Of course, if you have a special setting that is window-facing, that’s already perfect.

2: Turn on the heater

See, that already sounds better in the winter months. The dry air from the air conditioner balances the humidity well, but the warm air from the heater absorbs moisture better. Again, turn it up well high and aim the vents mostly at the windshield. That way you’ll get rid of the condensation soon enough and everything will be clear again.

3: Clean (and keep) the window clean

It sounds a bit obvious, but it always works well. By using a wiper and/or a cloth to clean the windshield thoroughly on the inside, you’ll prevent a lot of condensation. In fact, condensation sticks to dirt extra well. A dry wipe helps well to get the window clear again if things are already fogged up, but to solve the problem more fundamentally, it’s better to really clean the window well. Degreasing agents, such as dish soap or glass cleaner, help better to get the window so clean that it is also less likely to fog up again.

4: Don’t bring wet things into the car

A wet umbrella, shoes that still have snow on them, soggy sportswear. It all creates more moisture in the car and thus more condensation. So give the umbrella a good shake before you put it in the car or pat your shoes down a bit. Of course, it’s impossible not to bring these things at all – if you’re raining wet yourself, it’s hard to leave your clothes behind before you drive – but make sure you also take them out of the car as soon as possible when you arrive. The longer you leave these things in the car, the longer the air conditioning has to be on to compensate for the humidity.

5: Use a dehumidifier

You can buy special car dehumidifiers. The ANWB carries these things, but you can also find them at many gas stations and travel stores. These are special pads or cans that absorb the moisture from the car, preventing fogged up windows. In case you can’t find something like this, it can also help to use household items to make the car less damp. For example, a bag of rice or cat litter on the dashboard also helps tremendously.