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ExplainerCar1 min read

Why your windshield fogs up on the inside (and how to stop it)

It’s not your imagination, and it’s not the weather’s fault. It’s mostly the film on the glass.

By The ArcadeWrld team

Published

View from the driver’s seat on a mountain road

What fog actually is

Fog is tiny drops of water. The air inside the car holds moisture from your breath, wet coats and the floor mats; when it touches glass that’s colder than the dew point, the water condenses. The drops grip onto anything already on the glass, which is why a dirty windshield fogs faster than a clean one.

The fast fix

  1. Turn on the AC with the heat. The AC dries the air, the heat warms the glass. Together they clear fog in about a minute.
  2. Switch off recirculate. Recirculating air keeps the same damp air inside the car.
  3. Crack a window. Even a finger’s width lets the moisture out.

The lasting fix

  • Clean the inside of the glass: fog needs something to grip
  • Shake out wet mats and dry them at home
  • Keep an anti-fog cloth or a moisture absorber in the car over winter

Cheat code

Clean glass fogs later and clears faster. If your windshield fogs every morning, start with the inside of the glass, not the vents.

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  • #Car care
  • #Windshield

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