Top tips for demisting your windscreen

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Not only are misted up windows an annoyance when you’re hurrying to work in the morning, but they can also significantly impede visibility on the road. This article will explain why windscreens fog up, as well as providing you with some top tips to demisting your windscreens so you can drive safely.

Why do windscreens mist up?

Misted up windscreens occur when the temperature is colder than dew point causing excess moisture to form inside the car and create condensation on the glass. Although it is a simple problem to correct, many drivers don’t know how to get rid of the steam on their windscreen, causing them to drive in dangerous conditions with a foggy windscreen.

How to demist your windscreen

If you’re familiar with the problem of having a misted up windscreen, the good news is there are plenty of quick and easy solutions which can rectify the issue and restore your car back to a driveable condition:

  1. Chamois demister pad or cloth and wipe the steam off the glass.
  1. Switch on the air conditioning in your car will help to remove the moisture from the air.
  1. Turn on the heating to help warm the windows so they are above dew point. Top tip: turn off the air recirculation setting on the heater as this can cause the car to warm up too quickly so the moisture stays inside the car.
graphic depicting demisting windscreen
  1. Open a window – if you can brave the outdoor elements, to let out the moist air.

It’s recommended that you switch your air conditioning on at the same time as your heater, as the hot air will dry the glass by evaporating condensation, while the air conditioning will keep the atmosphere dry.

close up of car dials

However, if your windscreen has fogged up on a cold winter’s morning, chances are you’re not going to want to put the air conditioning on. In such situations, switching on your heating is the best solution as it will keep you warm, despite taking a little longer to demist your windscreen.

How can I prevent getting a fogged up windscreen?

To prevent your windscreen from fogging up in the first place, make sure you clean your windows regularly; a buildup of dust and oil on the glass creates a larger surface area for water vapour to appear on, so ridding your windows of this buildup can help to prevent your windows from steaming up.

Not only that, applying an anti-fog coating to your windscreens will help to clean the windscreen further to achieve a crystal-clear view.

What should I avoid doing when trying to demist my windscreen?

When deciding what action to take to demist your windscreen, it’s also important to know what to avoid doing to ensure you don’t make the problem worse.

  1. Do not rub the windscreen with your sleeve

The moisture from your breath when leaning across the windscreen to wipe the glass with your sleeve can cause the surface to mist up again.

  1. Avoid only opening your windows slightly or only using a couple of air vents

Air circulation inside the car is crucial to stop your warm, moist breath from reaching the windscreen, so there needs to be as much of a breeze flowing through the car as possible.

The future of windscreens

Over the past few years, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been developing a special coating which prevents windscreens misting up, whatever the weather.

This coating resists rain whilst absorbing moisture from the atmosphere to stop condensation from forming on the surface of the glass. Other proposed uses for this specialist coating have included on the inside of car windscreens, ski goggles, inside supermarket fridges and double glazing.

However, many question the validity of this “miracle windscreen glass”, stating that simply using the vehicle’s heating controls correctly can make a significant difference.

Here at 1st Call Windscreens, we provide a comprehensive windscreen repair and replacement service to customers throughout Kent, including the Maidstone, Gillingham, Sittingbourne, Rochester and Chatham areas. If your windscreen is suffering from a chip or crack, our experienced team will try their best to restore it back to a fully functional state using specialist repairs equipment. If your vehicle requires an entirely new windscreen, we have an extensive stock available, whatever make or model you need.

Simply get in touch with our expert team today to find out more – we are always happy to help.

Posted by: 1st Call Windscreens

We are proud to be a leading windscreen company covering our local areas of Maidstone, Sittingbourne and the rest of Kent since 1996. Our 25+ years experience in windscreen services includes windscreen repair and replacement for cars, vans, trucks and more! Our expert technicians hold the relevant qualifications so you can rest easy knowing that your windscreen is in safe hands.

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