5 Tips to Increase Windshield Visibility During the Cold Winter

If you live in an area of the country that becomes cold and snowy during the winter months, then you may find it tough to keep your windshield consistently free from fog, snow, and even dirt that others on the road splash onto your windshield while driving during inclement weather. While this problem is not unusual, it can lead to a decrease in windshield visibility that can make driving dangerous.



Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to help increase your windshield visibility during the winter, even when driving in frigid temperatures and on slush-covered roads. Read on to learn five tips for improving windshield visibility when driving in harsh winter weather. 

1. Invest in Winter Windshield Wipers 

You may know that you should inspect and replace your windshield wipers on a regular basis during the winter to help them clear snow and ice from your windshield as effectively as possible. However, few drivers know that there are special wipers made specifically for winter weather. 

Traditional windshield wipers can ice up and freeze when temperatures are low, which decreases their flexibility and makes it more difficult for them to clear snow and slush from your windshield effectively. Winter windshield wipers, on the other hand, are fully encased in rubber or plastic covers that insulate wiper components to prevent wiper freezing and its consequences even in super-low temperatures.

Winter wipers cost little more than traditional windshield wipers and you can find them in many auto supply stores. 

2. Clean the Inside and Outside of Your Windshield Properly

While windshield wipers coupled with a high-quality winter windshield washer fluid can help keep your windshield cleaner while driving, you should also manually clean your windshield exterior on a regular basis to remove more dirt and debris than your wipers alone can remove. Also, do not forget to clean your windshield interior surface regularly, especially if you smoke, to remove dirt and debris that can interfere with visibility. 

To manually clean the windshield exterior, you need just an auto glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Spray the glass cleaner on the windshield surface, then use the cloth to remove dirt and grime, paying special attention to the window seals and frame. Also, clean your wiper blades with the cloth if needed. Next, buff away any residue on glass with the clean side of the cloth. Finally, repeat the process on the windshield interior. 

3. Consider Coating Your Windshield With a Water-Repellant Product

Some drivers find that their windshield visibility improves during the winter after they apply waterrepellant products to their windshields. These products form hydrophobic coatings on windshield glass after application, and you can find them at many automotive stores. 

While known to repel rainwater, these products can also repel snow and wet road slush during the winter. While you will still need to use your windshield wipers after applying one of these products to your windshield, you may find that your wipers need to perform less work when this coating is working with them hand-in-hand to keep your windshield snow- and sleet-free. 

4. Use Your Windshield Defroster Correctly

Fog develops on a windshield when the vehicle interior is filled with warm, moist air and the outdoor air is cold and dry. Your vehicle's windshield defroster tool can help keep this window fog- and condensation-free when driving to increase visibility greatly when you use it properly. 

First, for maximum defroster effectiveness, power up your vehicle a few minutes to warm up its air ducts before turning on the defroster. Then, turn the defroster on the high setting; the low setting is unlikely to be effective when winter temperatures are extremely low. 

Always ensure that your climate control system recirculation button is turned to the "off" setting when using your defroster. Air that is recirculated contains much more moisture than air that enters the vehicle from the outdoors, and moisture inside of the vehicle can contribute to the accumulation of even more condensation on the windshield. 

Finally, to help keep windows fog-free, minimize moisture inside of your vehicle that can evaporate into small water particles and accumulate on your windshield. Common sources of interior vehicle moisture include wet floor mats; hot, steamy beverages; and moist upholstery. 

5. Repair All Windshield Cracks and Chips As Soon As They Develop

While windshield cracks and chips can impair windshield visibility year-round, they can be even more of a nuisance during the winter months. These glass imperfections can become filled with dirt and debris that your windshield wipers have difficulty removing as they glide along the glass surface, greatly impeding your windshield visibility while driving. 

In addition, even a small crack or chip in a windshield can expand very quickly during the winter months as the glass experiences thermal stress caused by fluctuating windshield temperature. This thermal stress can even cause your windshield to spontaneously shatter when driving during the winter when its integrity is already jeopardized by a crack or chip. 

For these reasons, have any cracks or chips that develop in your windshield during the winter repaired immediately to restore windshield visibility and prevent windshield shattering while driving. 

Follow these five tips to improve windshield visibility during the cold, snowy winter months and make winter driving safer for you and your passengers. Contact the auto glass repair and replacement experts at MS Glass Outlet for all of your windshield repair or replacement needs today.