As the mornings are getting darker and colder, getting out of bed is enough of a challenge. Remembering to leave five minutes earlier so that you can demist or de-ice your windscreen is even more of a trial!
Your windscreen mists up when the temperature in your car is very different to the temperature outside of your car. Added moisture in the car, from people breathing or wet boots or clothes being left in it overnight, can exacerbate the problem. Here’s everything you need to know about clearing your windscreen in double time so that you can get to work/school/the train on time.
1. Turn the heater on
This is an obvious thing to do. But rather than switching the heating on to high straight away, turn it on at its lowest, and gradually increase the heat as the moist air in the car dries out.
2. Turn your air con on
If you have air conditioning, switch it on to help dry out the car’s interior. The hot air will dry the windscreen, but once the cooler air hits it more condensation will form. Air con will help to prevent this by keeping the atmosphere inside dry.
3. Ventilate
If you don’t have air conditioning, roll down the windows to help ventilate the car. By opening the windows, you are letting some of the warmer, damp air out and some of the cold, dry air in. This has double benefits: reducing the condensation-causing moisture and evening out the temperatures between the outside and the inside of the car. Be aware, though, that if you turn the heating all the way up to warm you up, you will probably have the same problem.
4. Demist!
Finally, deploy the windscreen demister. If you are lucky to have a blast heater or demisting setting, once you have got rid of some of the ambient humidity, the demister will do the job for you in no time.
Tempting as it may be to skip straight to step four, by doing some of the leg work first, you are making it much easier for your demister to finish the job. Plus, while you are in the car, you are adding to the heat disparity/ moisture problem, so your demister is fighting a losing battle.
A fogged windscreen is inconvenient, especially if you are in a rush already. Don’t be tempted to drive until you have good visibility; driving with a “porthole” cleared in fog or frost is dangerous and is an offence. If your windscreen is obstructed by cracks or chips, get it checked out by a windscreen specialist. To help prevent foggy windows, take your car for a professional valet and ask them to apply water repellent when they do the windscreen. For more tips and to find the best garages near you, follow Trust a Garage on Facebook or X.