Keeping the temperature comfortable inside your car, no matter what the weather is like where you reside, may involve battling misty windows. If you live in a cold-weather location, you’re likely to use your car’s heater to remain warm, which might cause fog on the inside of your windows.

Turning on the air conditioning (AC) in a hot, humid climate might have the reverse effect, causing the fog to obscure your windows from the outside.

That’s why you should know how to fog car windows. To lessen or remove fog or condensation, try to match the temperature inside the automobile as nearly as possible to the outside temperature. To know more about it, let’s dive into it.

The Reasons of fog

The Reasons of fog

The temperature and moisture content of the air are the causes of foggy windows. On a cold day, any moisture in the air inside your car — from passengers breathing, snow on your boots, etc. — condenses when it comes into contact with air near the windows that is below the dew point.

The foggy appearance of your car’s windows is due to condensation. When the muggy air outside your automobile reaches the dew point on your windshield after being cooled by your AC system on a hot, humid day, the opposite occurs.

Any time you can’t see properly in all directions, whether the fog is on the inside or outside of your windows, it’s potentially harmful. So, regardless of the weather’s, it’s important to know how to fog car windows.

Why are my windows fogging up?

Why are my windows fogging up

When it’s cold outside, your windows may fog up. Then you lose sight of where you’re headed, and you and those around you are suddenly in danger. So, why do your windows fog up in the winter, and how can you prevent it?

Moisture condenses on a cold surface, resulting in fog. When the air inside your vehicle is moist and warmer than the air outside, it condenses on the glass, which is cooled by the outside temperature, resulting in fog.

Why do windshields fog up in the rain?

Why do windshields fog up in the rain

Condensation on the interior surface of the windshield, not the exterior, causes windshield fogging. So cleaning the outside is pointless. Because of the high humidity within the vehicle, condensation forms on the windshield, and fogging occurs because the temperature outside is colder than inside the vehicle.

Consider how moisture collects on the outside of your drink; it’s the same situation. And that’s why windshields fog up in the rain or rainy season.

When it’s colder outside than inside your car

When it’s colder outside than inside your car

When it’s chilly outside, and you put on the heater in your car, fog will often collect on the inside of your car windows. To defog certain windows, consider the following options:

  • To begin, raise the heat to the highest level possible, as heated air may contain more moisture.
  • Then, as the air flows over the cooling coils, switch on the air conditioner, which will extract the moisture from the air.
  • Finally, switch off the recirculation button to allow for cooler, dryer air to enter the vehicle.
  • Crack your windows for a few minutes if feasible to assist exchange the damp interior air for the dryer outside air.

When it’s warmer outside than inside your car

When it’s warmer outside than inside your car

Moisture condenses on the outside of the car window when the temperature and humidity levels outside are higher than inside the car. The idea is to match the temperature inside the automobile to the outside temperature, similar to when it’s cooler outside than it is inside.

It signifies warming up the interior in this scenario. Keep in mind the following advice:

  • First and foremost, make use of your windshield wipers. This will assist you in getting rid of the condensation till the temperature is balanced.
  • Warm-up your automobile by turning down the air conditioning to the lowest (least-cool) level to raise the temperature without making it excessively hot. If this doesn’t work, Life hacker recommends turning off the air conditioner completely.
  • Recirculation should be turned off: To combat foggy windows, turn off your car’s recirculation feature, as mentioned above. This allows the temperature and moisture levels inside your car to equalize with those outsides.

Surprising Hack to Prevent Windshield from Fogging


If you’re tired of your windshield fogging up on the inside while it’s cold outside, try this one-of-a-kind tip for preventing windshield fog.

Keep in mind that there are various treatments on the market that are specifically designed to avoid fogging and last longer. This approach, on the other hand, should work if you’re searching for a quick and inexpensive solution to prevent windshield fog using a substance you already have on hand.

  • Shave the inside of your windshield with shaving cream, being careful not to get it on any other interior surfaces.
  • Wipe the shaving cream off with a towel, then wipe the shaving cream off with another towel until the glass is clear.
  • Place a cup of hot water or coffee up to the glass to see how it works. You’ll note that the steam evaporates quickly and does not produce fogging.

This is a home hack for reducing fog on bathroom mirrors, but many drivers have discovered that it works just as well on their automobile windshields. You can also use anti-fog glass wipes or sprays, which tend to last longer and require less application and reapplication.

Final Words

fog car windows

Visibility is a top priority for you whether you’re driving in the summer, winter, or monsoon. The majority of traffic accidents are caused by a lack of sight, and fogging can be a key contributor. It’s best to constantly take precautions before getting on the road, not only to keep oneself safe but also to safeguard the safety of those on the road.

These defogging techniques and tactics for your car windshield and windows are highly useful and should be employed by anyone who has encountered a similar scenario. As we’ve already explained how to fog car windows, we may now drive freely without fear of fogging up the vehicle.

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Gabrielle

Hi, my name is Gabrielle. I have been into Automotive Industry for over 15 years. If you’re anything like me, then building, maintaining and improving your Automotive Industry/Projects is all part of the Automotive experience. My goal with this blog is to share my experience with and help you discover new and exciting things about Automotive.