How to Eliminate Fog From a Car Window

Foggy windows are a safety hazard as well as an annoyance.

When you hop into your car on a cold winter day and head out on the open road, you may notice that fog immediately builds up on your windows and windshield. Fog poses a serious safety concern, as it limits your ability to see the road and makes navigating, in general, quite difficult. If you find that your windows fog up and you are not sure what to do, there are several simple ways to remove fog and restore visibility to your windshield.

Instructions

1. Turn off the car's recirculation function. This recycles air in the cabin and may make the car warm up faster, but also increases humidity and contributes to fog inside the cabin.

2. Turn on the air-conditioner. You may naturally feel inclined to turn on the heater, but warm air only contributes to the fog problem. Run the air-conditioner until the car is cool and dry, then switch to the heater.

3. Select the windshield vent on the air-conditioner's settings knob. Run warm air through this vent, but give the windshield time to warm up before the fog will dissipate.

4. Roll down your windows. Allowing the air inside to equalize with the air outside is one of the fastest ways to remove window fog in a pinch, though it will naturally make for a frosty ride.

References

• Window World: How to Prevent Window Fogging and Condensation
• DC Tech; Avoiding Frost & Fog on Windshields; January 2003