Cleaning the inside of a windscreen

[Yellow Saddle]

Accy cyclist has it. What you are seeing is plasticiser film, the last problem the motor industry has never solved. It's the plasticiser migrating out of the vinyl trim and settling on interior surfaces. Most motorists don't even notice it and carry on driving with their windows becoming foggier and foggier. The film attracts moisture so makes the windows mist up, disastrous for drivers who don't understand how to use the car's ventilation system. It obscures vison at night and makes the windscreen opaque when driving towards a low sun with a dark background, which is extremely dangerous for cyclists especially.

The secret is to keep on top of it and give the insides of the windows a good polish every month with a clean dry towel. If the film has built up, use water and dishwash liquid and marvel at the filth that appears on the cloth. It's quite tenacious so you'll need to do it a couple of times to get the glass really clean before buffing with a dry towel. You can see it beginning to build up again by wiping the corner of the windscreen with a finger while the sun is shining on the screen. Old cars don't suffer from plasticiser film because they are trimmed with leather and wood. It worries me that I'm inhaling that stuff, which is another good reason for keeping you car well ventilated by always running the fan on its lowest speed.

This is an excellent explanation.

 

[Globalti]

I got a large pack of yellow microfibre cloths for a small amount of money and am very pleased with them. As explained in the linked article above, they are super-absorbant and seem to pick up dirt very well. If I clean my car then dry it with one of these it collects even more dirt that washing seems not to have removed.

 

[potsy]

I have tried all sorts of glass cleaners and screen wipes over the years, with very mixed success.
Will try the soapy water method next time, with a lint free cloth to finish it off.

Any tips for stopping the build up of condensation?
Mine is terrible for it.

 

[Dayvo]

Any tips for stopping the build up of condensation?

This works for me:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4mzMS-ZZ8

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Any tips for stopping the build up of condensation?
Mine is terrible for it.

Stay out of the back seats??

GC

 

[Levo-Lon]

My car is in for service atm..2 days as they are sorting some warranty claims..
we have a brand new kia rio..to run about in..i love the new car smell..but they say its not good for you..
been having new cars every 2 yr for nearly 20 yrs..maybe thats why my skin has gone all malleable?
All that plastisier...i use it for motar too..

 

[donnydave]

another vote for auto glym fast glass and also rainx anti-fog seems to work well once youve got it clean, I have an open top car with no heater and it makes the world of difference but the rainx anti fog can be quite difficult to apply properly and not leave streaky marks that show up in the sun

 

[Globalti]

Any tips for stopping the build up of condensation?

Condensation happens in your car because you aren't using the heating and ventliation system properly. The fan ought to be permanently on the low position; otherwise air will only come though weakly from ram effect when you're moving. It's remarkable how ill-educated some drivers are on this; I once went out with two university lecturers in their car and the windscreen misted up. The driver leaned forward and cleared a hole with a cloth. I suggested using the demister so he switched the fan onto full blast, making a lot of noise. Two minutes later the screen was clear so he switched it off again and slowly the screen fogged over again. Stoopid or wot?

A car body is a cold metal box so condensation will build up next to the metal, behind the interior trim, making the car smell damp and mouldy. Leaving the fan on circulates warm fresh air and keeps everything fresh and dry. If the windows are still misting up and there's a stale smell, the cabin pollen filter is dirty and needs replacing. As discussed above, plasticiser film on the windows attracts moisture and encourages misting as well.

 

[potsy]

Condensation happens in your car because you aren't using the heating and ventliation system properly. The fan ought to be permanently on the low position; otherwise air will only come though weakly from ram effect when you're moving. It's remarkable how ill-educated some drivers are on this; I once went out with two university lecturers in their car and the windscreen misted up. The driver leaned forward and cleared a hole with a cloth. I suggested using the demister so he switched the fan onto full blast, making a lot of noise. Two minutes later the screen was clear so he switched it off again and slowly the screen fogged over again. Stoopid or wot?

A car body is a cold metal box so condensation will build up next to the metal, behind the interior trim, making the car smell damp and mouldy. Leaving the fan on circulates warm fresh air and keeps everything fresh and dry. If the windows are still misting up and there's a stale smell, the cabin pollen filter is dirty and needs replacing. As discussed above, plasticiser film on the windows attracts moisture and encourages misting as well.

I do keep the fan on low when driving but I am talking about why the inside is so badly misted up when I first get in it?

Not all the time but on occasions where other cars are not affected at all.

 

[screenman]

This is an excellent explanation.

It certainly saved me typing it.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Read the post above yours for reasons. It is well laid out. You have to assume that for whatever reason, there is more moisture (wet carpets, more bodies, panting dogs, heavy breathing, whatever) in your car than the other cars and that yours has more plastic vapour deposits on the inside of the windows which encourage condensation, as explained.

 

[Fnaar]

but I am talking about why the inside is so badly misted up when I first get in it?

Personally, I usually attribute it to my natural personal warmth and moistness

 

[potsy]

Read the post above yours for reasons. It is well laid out. You have to assume that for whatever reason, there is more moisture (wet carpets, more bodies, panting dogs, heavy breathing, whatever) in your car than the other cars and that yours has more plastic vapour deposits on the inside of the windows which encourage condensation, as explained.

Mmm, I have none of those really, well maybe the heavy breathing.

I wonder if it's not helped by the car sitting idle for days at a time?
Maybe needs 'airing' a bit more?

 

[Brandane]

Not all the time but on occasions where other cars are not affected at all.

Do you have water leaking in somewhere and gathering in the footwells? Maybe not obvious as it gets under the carpets. Every Volkswagen I ever owned (about 6 of them from a 1990 Golf to a 2003 Golf, via a Polo, a Bora, and another couple of Golfs) leaked. One through the windscreen seal, and others through the door seals, and especially the supposedly waterproof seal behind the door panel. It's one of the reasons why I won't buy another VW.. Anyway, once that damp gets inside the car, it will evaporate slowly and appear on the inside of your windows.

 

[potsy]

Do you have water leaking in somewhere and gathering in the footwells? Maybe not obvious as it gets under the carpets. Every Volkswagen I ever owned (about 6 of them from a 1990 Golf to a 2003 Golf, via a Polo, a Bora, and another couple of Golfs) leaked. One through the windscreen seal, and others through the door seals, and especially the supposedly waterproof seal behind the door panel. It's one of the reasons why I won't buy another VW.. Anyway, once that damp gets inside the car, it will evaporate slowly and appear on the inside of your windows.

Not noticed anything but maybe, carpets don't feel damp.