It's an autumn morning. You get into your car and every window is fogged up on the inside. You turn on the blowers, wait, and the glass takes forever to clear. There's a damp smell inside, sometimes even a musty, mouldy one. Sound familiar? It's more than just annoying. When you can't see the road properly, it's dangerous. And if that moisture stays inside your car, it can start causing trouble with the electronics too.
What's causing your car windows to fog up inside?
- Wet shoes, umbrellas and jackets.
- Damp floor mats that never properly dry out.
- Blocked drains beneath the windscreen, around the sunroof or inside the doors.
- Damaged door or boot seals.
- A dirty cabin filter or leaving the air recirculation switched on.
How can you dry out your car quickly?
- Switch on the air conditioning. It removes moisture from the air, even with the heating running.
- Turn off air recirculation so fresh air can come in from outside.
- Point the blowers straight at the windscreen.
- Take out the wet floor mats and let them dry at home.
- Clean the inside of your windows. Moisture clings more easily to the greasy film on the glass, making the windows fog up faster.
When are fogged-up windows a sign of a bigger problem?
If your windows are fogged up every morning, even when you haven't brought any water in on your shoes, and you're finding water beneath the floor mats, we need to work out where it's coming from. Blocked drains are usually the culprit. Instead of draining away outside, the water ends up straight inside your car. And at that point, wiping the windows isn't going to fix anything. We need to check the car properly.
Please don't drive off with fogged-up windows when you can barely see what's in front of you. Wait until the glass is clear. I'm telling you this because a pedestrian could step out in front of you in the dark before you've even had a chance to spot them.
How can you keep moisture out of your car?
- Replace the cabin filter once a year.
- Clear fallen leaves from the area beneath the windscreen in autumn.
- Use rubber floor mats during the rainy season.
- Clean the inside of your windows at least once a month.
A tip from Kris Mladenov: In the morning, switch on the air conditioning along with the heating. You'll be surprised how much faster your windows clear.
If your windows keep fogging up and there's a damp smell inside your car, bring it to Das Auto Service. We'll check the drains, seals and cabin filter to find out where the water is getting in.
What you'll find in our shop
Audi universal glass and surface cleaner, 500 ml
Audi's universal glass cleaner removes the greasy film from the inside of your windows where moisture tends to collect.
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Audi universal microfibre cloth
The Audi universal microfibre cloth dries your windows without leaving any lint behind.
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Genuine Audi interior plastic cleaning and polishing spray, 500 ml
The genuine Audi interior plastic cleaning spray cleans the dashboard, removing dust and grease that could otherwise end up on your windows.
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- Air conditioning servicing at Das Auto Service
- Interior repairs
- What should I check on the sunroof and drains after winter?
- Water inside your car: blocked sunroof and windscreen drains
- Why a genuine cabin filter is worth it
Frequently asked questions
Why do my car windows fog up on the inside?
Because there's moisture inside the car. It could be from wet clothes and floor mats, blocked drains or a dirty cabin filter.
Does air conditioning help stop windows fogging up?
Yes, absolutely. Air conditioning dries the air, even when you've got the heating on.
Where does water get into the car?
The most common culprits are blocked drains beneath the windscreen or around the sunroof.