This is how you prevent or remedy fogged car windows

Fogged windows are not only annoying for the driver of a car, but also dangerous. According to the legislator, this poses so much danger that it carries a hefty fine. Fact code P041A, slang for low-visibility driving, is good for €250 and an additional €9 administration fee. The Public Prosecution Service reports, according to NU.nl that an increase in the fine is imminent.

Of course you don’t want such a fine, but how come windows are fogging up in the first place? Water vapor in the car interior hits the cold car windows, cools and condenses. A simple solution seems to be to keep out moisture in the interior, but a coat that has been raining heavily is often enough to push the moisture percentage to great heights. And what about the breath of a bunch of elated kids in the backseat on their way to a fall vacation or a wet dog in the boot? Fortunately, there is indeed something that can be done about it.

Tip 1: Ensure clean windows

A lot of dirt settles on the inside of car windows, which forms an absorbent layer. This makes it a lot more difficult to demist fogged windows. So make sure you have clean windows. “Use a special car window cleaner and paper for cleaning,” says owner Leon Jansen of the eponymous car cleaning shop in Duizel. NU.nl. “Universal household spray leaves behind a layer that can cause ‘light harps’ in bright light from, for example, a low sun or the headlights of oncoming traffic. If you suffer from stubborn condensation on the car windows, we can apply a coating that removes moisture.” Incidentally, cigarette smoke and dog breath are disastrous: this leaves very stubborn dirt behind on the windows. Water with a dash of cleaning ammonia is often the only method to make the glass clean again free of grease and dirt.

Tip 2: Use the air conditioning

Another weapon in battle is the air conditioning. It removes moisture from the indoor air and carries it outside. Air conditioning is therefore useful not only in the summer but also in the colder periods of the year, because dry air leaves less condensation on the windows. However, the air conditioning is not completely flawless as a weapon against condensation: “The air conditioning also causes pollution of the window, which means that condensation can be stubborn,” adds Jansen. Is your air conditioning on and the windows keep misting up? Then check whether the recirculation mode of the ventilation system is switched on. If so, then drained moisture is blown into the car again and again.

Tip 3: Do not touch windows

You can also easily remove the condensation with a window squeegee. Only use your hands as ‘wipers’ when absolutely necessary. Not only do you apply skin grease to the glass, but you also sweep the dirt together, which causes thick stripes. An old chamois sponge can help if you rinse it regularly. In countless video tutorials we come across dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, shaving cream and even half onions as means to prevent condensation.

Tip 4: Moisture sources and eaters

The air that is used to ventilate your car interior enters through the windscreen and exits through the luggage compartment. Make sure that the air supply is free of leaves (check the paravan for this) and that the cabin filter is replaced regularly. Wet items, such as clothes or shoes, are best placed in the luggage compartment, so as close to the air outlet as possible. Containers of uncooked white rice or porous bags with silica granules are also great for extracting moisture from a car that is parked a lot.

Tip 5: Vaporize

One of the first things you learn in high school is that warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. By increasing the temperature of the windows, there is less chance that air will condense. In a car with a combustion engine, the heating only comes up to temperature after a few kilometers. The optional windscreen heating or electric additional heating is ideal. Anyone who has a parking heater with a time switch has it all set up. Then there is a good chance that the car is not only warm but also free of moisture when you get in. The heating of an electric car can also do its job while the car is at the charging station. This is how you drive away with demisted windows.