We all know the struggle of getting in your car on a cold morning, ready to head out, only to realise that you can’t see a thing through your foggy windows.
Condensation occurs when warm air containing moisture comes into contact with a cool surface, like your windshield and windows. When the warm air meets with its cold counterpart, the warm air condenses onto that cold surface in the form of tiny droplets.
To stay safe on the road, and to avoid this pesky problem, try one of the following solutions to keep condensation at bay.
The 4 Most Efficient Ways to Fight Condensation:
1.Turn on the Air Conditioning
Using the air conditioning feature in your car is an easy and effective way to remove condensation. This feature draws air through an evaporator which removes the moisture content of the air entering the cabin replacing the moist air that is causing the condensation. On recirculate mode the moist air is taken from within the cabin and the moisture removed before re-entering the cabin which is why you see the water on the ground under a vehicle while the air conditioning unit is working.
It’s also important to refresh the air in the cabin to stop condensation from accumulating inside the cabin. You can do this by making sure the recirculation setting is switched from internal to fresh air.
Another tip is to ensure that your air conditioning filter is changed regularly. This can greatly improve the efficiency of your air conditioning system, as well as reduce the chances of condensation.
2. Use the Demister Function
The demister function helps to clear condensation from the front windscreen by directing warm air towards the glass through vents. In the rear it heats up the glass by sending an electric current through thin wires. These clever solutions help to evaporate all that moisture, allowing you to clearly see where you’re going on those cold winter mornings.
While the demister isn’t quite as effective as air conditioning, it will work eventually because it gives the water vapour no choice but to condense somewhere else, as soon as the heated portion of the glass becomes warmer than your breath.
3. Keep Windscreen and Windows Clean
One of the key ways to help fight condensation is to keep the insides of the windows (particularly the windscreen) as clean as possible. This will lower the chances of condensation forming, and ensures quick removal of any condensation that does form.
To clean your windows without leaving behind any streaks, try using something made of paper (paper towel, newspaper, napkin etc.) or a microfiber cloth.
4. Use an Anti-fog Solution or Dehumidifier Bags
Anti-fog is a great trick to use if you want to fight condensation before it even begins. It works by coating the glass in a thin protective layer, making it much harder for fog and condensation to form in the first place.
It’s easy to use and straightforward to apply - simply spray onto the windshield and windows, or onto a cloth or paper towel, carefully spread it around, let it sit for a moment, and then wipe thoroughly for fog-free glass. Most anti-fog solutions can also be used outside of the car on things like helmet visors, goggles, and bathroom mirrors - making it a versatile multi-purpose solution.
Dehumidifier bags are full of silicone balls and sit on top of your dashboard to soak up moisture from the air inside your car at all times. They help to maintain a manageable amount of humidity within the cabin. This means, if you do need to use any of the previous solutions, they’re likely to work more efficiently with the use of a dehumidifier bag thanks to the head start.
Getting rid of condensation inside your car can be a real pain when you’re in a rush, so using one of these solutions should save you some time and confusion.
Modern cars often come with more modern solutions such as Climate Control air conditioning, to get the job done faster and more efficiently or try rolling down your windows and giving your car an air once in a while.
If the condensation in your car can’t be beaten, it might be time to look at upgrading to a new one. Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Buying a New Car for your next steps.
