Why do my car windows fog up in autumn?
Many people recognise this phenomenon. As the weather gets wetter and colder outside, you suddenly have fogged-up mirrors and windows as you enter your car. How does this happen and, more importantly, what can you do about it? It comes back every year so it pays to give it some attention.
Besides being irritating and distracting when your windows are fogged up, it is also dangerous. Most people tend to drive off before the condensation on the windows is gone anyway, causing reduced visibility. Also, did you know that statistically, most traffic accidents happen precisely in the first few minutes after leaving? Therefore, it is advisable to make sure the condensation has dissolved first.
In the months when it starts getting colder, often in autumn, this problem suddenly starts occurring again. You get into the car and the entire window is completely fogged up. This is because the weather outside is getting damper and colder. The difference in temperature causes the moisture in the air to condense on the windows. You might be tempted to wipe some away with your fingers or hands, but you should definitely not do that! You will end up with greasy streaks on the window that are very difficult to remove.
The first thing you can do is turn on your car’s ariconditioning. Not just a little, but at full power and preferably directed at the windows if you have that option. This actually ensures that moisture is removed from the air and therefore a drier environment. If you have the option of turning on the heater on your windows and on your side mirrors, you should definitely not forget that either. Run your windshield wipers back and forth a few times so you can clearly see when the condensation on the inside has disappeared.
Do you suffer very badly from this problem and the air conditioning and/or heating do not solve it fast enough? Then make sure to reduce the problem in the first place! For example, you can put a bag of rice by your windscreen when you get out of your car as soon as you get home. This extracts and absorbs moisture, reducing its precipitation on your windscreen. You can also try buying special bags that remove moisture from the air. Also, by regularly cleaning the inside of your window, you can ensure that less moisture stays on it and that visibility improves.
Another common mistake people make is the habit of leaving damp items in the car. For example, an umbrella that has just come out of the rain or a pair of hiking boots that have been walked with in the rain. During the night, this moisture can hit the windows, so by preventing that, you can avoid a lot of irritation and even safety issues for when you drive away the next morning.
During autumn, when a beautiful day appears with nice sunshine after all the rain and wetness, open all the doors or windows of your car for a while. That way, you can let the car air out, which makes the moisture disappear from the car more easily. It is also good for the smells in the car to be aired out once every few months.
If you have tried all the tips and the problem persists, it might be time to replace the door rubbers, or the filters in the car’s air filter. If you are not ready to do this yet or your budget does not allow for it, there are still some emergency solutions you can reach for. These are a little less orthodox but can work very well.
The last thing you can try is rubbing the inside of your window with shaving cream. This is because the moisture will stick to this. If you then wipe the window with a dry cloth, this should give good results. Whichever of the above tips you try, do take this problem seriously. If something happens once that could have been prevented by dehumidifying your windows, you won’t thank yourself. So make sure you can get back on the road nice and quickly in a safe way!
