Find out how to defog your windshield with this quick guide

 Living in Central Florida, we're bound to encounter all types of weather and a span of temperatures (ok, so it's hot like 70% of the time). This means you're also likely to encounter a foggy windshield on some mornings, especially when the humidity is high or the temperatures are low. Toyota of Orlando is here to explain how to defog your windshield quickly and efficiently no matter what the weather is. 

Why does your Orlando Toyota's windshield get foggy in the first place? 

Before we discuss how to defog a windshield, we have to discuss why windshields and windows get foggy in the first place. It all comes down to the dew point - this is the temperature at which humid air turns into fog. Here are the two scenarios in which the dew point causes foggy glass in your car. 

In cold weather, the moisture inside of your car touches the cold glass (which is cold because of the air outside) and reaches the dew point there, causing fog on the inside of the glass. Humid air in your car can come from your breath, as well as moisture trapped in the cabin from wet shoes, etc. You'll also see this occur when you're driving in the rain. 

In hot, humid weather, the moisture outside of your car in the surrounding air touches the cool glass (which is cool usually because you're running your air-conditioning inside your Orlando Toyota). It reaches the dew point there, causing fog on the outside of the glass. 

How to defog your windshield in both cold and hot weather

Now you know how and why fog forms on the glass of your Orlando Toyota; let's talk about how to defog your windshield quickly and efficiently so you can get out on the open road. Here are the two methods to use. 

• When it's cold outside, the fog is on the inside of your glass. Defogging it is going to be a multi-step process as follows: 
• Turn on your defroster to temporarily clear the glass. This isn't a permanent solution, though - it'll work for a minute but if you turn the defroster off, the glass will fog right back up. 
• To defog your windshield, you need to get rid of moisture in the air. Turn on your air-conditioning for a few minutes - the cold air will help suck moisture out of the cabin.
• You should also make sure your recirculating feature is turned off so you're not recycling the same humid air through the cabin - you want your car's A/C to suck in fresh, cold air. 
• Open your windows to let more cold air in and humid air out. 

• When it's hot outside, the process is much simpler. The fog is on the outside of the glass so to defog your windshield, all you have to do is turn on your windshield wipers and roll down your windows to remove the fog. You might also turn your A/C down a little bit to prevent more fog from forming. 

And believe it or not, there are things you can do so instances in which you have to defog a windshield aren't as common. Here are some tips from the techs at Toyota of Orlando: 

• Keep your car clean - moisture sticks to dirt, which means more fog. 
• Try not to bring wet things inside the cabin of your Orlando Toyota when it's cold out. Wipe off your shoes and throw wet umbrellas, etc. in the trunk. 
• Use a defogging solution on your car's windshield - our Toyota of Orlando parts store can help you find the right one for your car's interior and exterior glass. 
• Try shaving cream. Some drivers say that wiping shaving cream on the inside of the windshield and then wiping it off can prevent fog from forming. 
• Make sure you keep up with routine car care for your air-conditioner, heater, and defroster.

 Have questions or need to shop for products to defog your windshield? Call Toyota of Orlando today - we're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001 and conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.