For all the cozy things we associate with wintertime, there are some particularly frustrating aspects as well. Foggy car windshields in the morning are one of them!

The fog that forms on a windshield is actually condensation. It’s created when water vapor in the air near the glass falls below or above a certain temperature, known as the dewpoint. When the temperature of a car cabin gets warmer than it is outside, that’s when the moisture from our breath and clothes condenses on the inside of the windshield and windows.

To help you defog those windows as quickly as possible, we’ve enlisted the help of former NASA engineer Mark Rober, who made an awesome video to explain his science-based defogging technique.

4 science-based tips for defogging windshields in no time.

Turn your car’s heater on full-blast

Start your engine, and using the defroster setting, crank the heater up all the way to absorb excess moisture within your vehicle. Remember: Hot air can hold more moisture.

Press the A/C button

This may sound counterintuitive to the whole heater thing, but really what you’re doing is activating a setting on your car’s A/C system that helps dry the air within the car faster with the help of the coils in your A/C system.

Turn air recirculation off

You need fresh air to enter the car as well. Winter air is cold, and as it does not hold much moisture, it is dry. Bringing it into your car ups absorption capacity to more quickly dry the saturated air trapped within. 

Crack as many windows as possible

This might make you cold, but it helps exchange the humid air in your car with dryer outside air, speeding up the process.

Want to see Rober’s video for yourself? Have a look right here. Safe driving everyone!