Posted by Darren Pay on Apr 04, 2019
Winter means decreasing temperatures, rain, and sometimes snow. One minute it’s sunny and suddenly you find your windscreen all misty and foggy due to the sudden heavy shower of rain.
As winter approaches visibility is very important to be safe while driving on the road. Which means cleaning (and clearing) your cars' it has to be done properly and differently. Your safety while driving during the winter season is guaranteed if you have adopted the right procedure while cleaning your windscreen so as to give you clear visibility.
Always bear in mind, bad visibility distracting you to fiddle with the temperature buttons or trying to wipe up your foggy screen will not only endanger your own life but other's lives too.
Once you are aware of what to expect during winter, make sure you also follow the right procedure while trying to clean and clear your windscreens.
These Six Simple Winter Tips Will Help You Keep Your Windscreen Clear:
Avoid Dirt and Grime from Settling on It!
Dust particles on the glass tend to absorb moisture, which means dirtier screens will inevitably fog up sooner. The glass has to be cleaned using the appropriate auto glass cleaner and cloth that is lint-free and soft enabling you to remove any type of dust or stubborn dirt.
Make Sure You Regularly Defog Your Windscreen
Human breath, hot drinks, damp shoes or clothes in the vehicle can add to the humidity. So whenever moist, humid air inside your car comes in touch with the cold glass surface, your screen will get misty.
If your air conditioning system has an automatic demist option, use it. Aiming the vent at the windscreen, regulate the temperature by FIRST turning it to cold and slowly increase the temperature which will result in the air-drying out.
Make Use of Fresh Air
The same circulated air is more humid, so instead of increasing the humidity by circulating moist humid air, open the window just a bit and as cold dry air enters, this will lower the dew point. This, in turn, will decrease the humidity and the mist or 'fog' will disappear
When You Spot 'fog' Avoid Wiping It Away
To you, this may be the best solution, but using a cloth or your sleeve to wipe away the condensation will not help as the screen will as quickly become foggy. It just requires patience on your part while the fan and the air conditioner do their job.
Don't Allow Anything to Settle Outside of Your Windscreen. Keep It Clean at All Times.
With some places in Australia being colder than the rest, a layer of ice or even snow can develop on your windscreen. Using an ice scraper is the best way to get rid of this before you start driving. One may even be tempted to pour hot or boiling water to solve this situation quickly but NEVER do it as it can crack your windscreen or glass due to thermal shock.
Avoid Prolonged Usage of Faulty Wipers
It's of optimum importance that your wipers are in the best condition. If the rubber on your wipers is eroded or flawed in any way, they will not function well. Fallen leaves and rain will not be wiped off your windscreen well enough hampering your visibility, which, in turn, will be unsafe.
Similarly, faulty windscreen having chips or cracks can also influence the driver's visibility. The windscreen plays an important role in maintaining the cars structural integrity. Adverse weather in winter could only further weaken the glass, complicating situation leading to big issues - It's very important to attend to the maintenance of your car regularly.
So if your car has a cracked or a chipped windscreen, ensure it is seen to immediately by a professional repair service to avoid greater damage in the future.