As temperatures drop this autumn, motorists may find their cars fogging up for the first time in months. However quickly you want to get away, it is essential to ensure your windscreen is clear before you set off.
An expert has warned that failing to fully demist your car and ensure the windscreen, windows and mirrors are free from obstruction is not only dangerous, but it can leave car owners at risk of an on-the-spot fine and penalty points. Ben Custard, driving expert at Motorpoint, has shared seven ways to demist your car faster, including the trio of dashboard buttons motorists need to press.
Remove Damp Items and Speed Up the Process
Ben explains: "Your windscreen will mist up when water vapour in the atmosphere comes into contact with the cold glass, creating condensation. While this is sometimes unavoidable throughout autumn and winter when temperatures drop, leaving damp items like umbrellas or gym kit in your car overnight will make the issue worse."
"Make sure you remove them to help limit the amount of condensation you're having to deal with."
"While you should never leave your car unattended with the engine running, waiting outside the car while demisting can help speed up the process," says Ben. "This is particularly effective if you have a full car, as more passengers mean additional heat and moisture in the air."
"Just don't be tempted to head back inside as this will leave your vehicle at risk."
Open Windows and Turn Off Recirculation
The expert says: "One of the easiest things that can help demist your car quickly is to open all the windows and let cold, dry air from outside to replace the humid air inside your car."
"They only need to be open for a minute or two for this to work. You can always reopen them when driving if your car starts to fog up again."
"Once your windows are closed, look for the circulation symbol, usually shown as a curved arrow inside a car outline, and make sure it's switched off."
"Leaving it on is a common mistake, but only once the air isn't recirculating will your car go back to taking in fresh air from outside that will likely be drier, helping reduce condensation."
Adjust Heat and Use Air Conditioning
"When looking to demist your car quickly, motorists might turn the heating up to the hottest setting, thinking it will clear their windscreen faster," warns Ben. "This rapid change in temperature can increase condensation as warm air meets the cold glass."
He advises: "Instead, start on a low setting and slowly increase the temperature to ensure you're clearing the condensation rather than creating more."
Ben says: "Despite being something more commonly reached for in summer, your car's air conditioning function is a good way to keep the atmosphere inside your car dry. It can act like a dehumidifier, removing water vapour and reducing moisture inside your car."
"It's most effective when used in combination with other climate control settings."
Know Your Dashboard Buttons
Ben adds: "I've already mentioned a couple of dashboard buttons that are really helpful when looking to demist your car quickly, but the most obvious button motorists need to be using is their car's defrosting and demisting function that is specifically designed to clear the windscreen. Drivers should be looking for a button with a picture of a windscreen and three arrows facing upwards."
The button with a curved windscreen is for the front, and the button with the square windscreen is for the rear. When pressed, the front windscreen button will direct a blast of air at the base of the screen, helping to clear any condensation quickly.
"In some cars, the windscreen is heated, which is even more efficient at improving your visibility. Again, when used in combination with turning off air recirculation and switching on the A/C, this is a really effective tool to demist your car and also works well if your car starts to fog up while you're driving."
