Buzz
Every driver knows that a fogged-up windshield is more than just annoying—it can seriously impair visibility, making driving more hazardous.
This issue commonly occurs in the winter months when the inside of your car is much warmer than the outside. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, so when the humid air from your heated car meets the chilly windows, condensation forms. Since keeping the temperatures balanced without ever turning on the heat isn’t feasible, former NASA engineer Mark Rober ran several tests to find the quickest way to clear the fog.
In the video below, Rober explains that the main objective is to replace the humid, warm air with dry air capable of absorbing the moisture. While outdoor air is dry, it’s also cold, so to use it in your car, you need to warm it up. In other words, crack your windows (if the weather allows), turn off the air circulation button, and pump up the heat. You should also turn on the air conditioning, which helps remove more moisture from the air.
Rober also offers a few tips to prevent fog buildup on your windows. Cat litter is highly absorbent, so placing a sock filled with it on your dashboard can help absorb excess moisture before it forms condensation on your windshield. And while anti-fog spray works well, Rober discovered that rubbing shaving cream on your windshield is equally effective.
As Lifehacker highlights, the title card of the video suggests that Rober will cover defrosting, but he only focuses on defogging. If you're still seeking defrosting tips, here’s a useful hack.
