Why You Get Haze on Windshield When It Rains – [4 Easy Fixes]

A lot of drivers have to deal with haze on the car windshield while driving in the rain. The car windshields usually have a hydrophobic rain screen. However, when your windshield wiper passes through, it leaves small droplets and that is what car owners call “haze.” If you’ve been dealing with this problem for quite some time now, you must get a solution to it.

Some of the reasons why you are getting haze on the windshield when it rains are wipers (especially the old ones), humidity, vinyl releasing vapor, or smoking. Let’s take a look at the top 3 reasons behind this problem along with methods to get rid of it.

Why You Get Haze On Windshield When It Rains?

Haze on the windshield during rain is usually caused by the water on the windshield mixing with dirt, grime, and other contaminants on the glass. When the water mixes with these substances, it can create a hazy film on the windshield that can obstruct visibility. 

Top 3 Reasons Why You Get Haze On Windshield When It Rains (With Solutions)

Haze on Windshield When It Rains

Haze build-up can be troublesome for both beginners and experienced drivers. Not only does this hinder you from getting a proper view of the road but can also be very dangerous while driving at night. So it makes sense that you should know why haze forms on your windshield in the first place and different solutions to tackle it:

#1 Slow Evaporation of Rainwater on Windshield

Usually, when the windshield wipers pass over the windshield, a haze is created that stays there for a moment and evaporates. This cycle of appearance and disappearance of haze keeps going on and on. It becomes a problem when the haze evaporates at a slow rate, but the wiper’s blades would continue smearing rainwater on the windshield. 

If your wipers are at medium to high speeds, they will make their passes faster and the haze wouldn’t have enough time to evaporate. This problem is tolerable in the day but can become worse at night as the haze issue gets seconded by headlight or streetlight glare. Both these issues are difficult to deal with as you won’t be able to see the road. 

Solution: You can apply a thin coat of windshield wax or some regular wax of your choice on the windshield to tackle this problem. This will seal the windshield and aid in spreading the water evenly and also its easy removal. Moreover, with a seal coating, your windshield glass won’t get damaged if the wiper is broken or has cracks.

#2 Old Windshield Wipers

Old Windshield Wipers

With old windshield wipers that have hardened rubber with cracks, you can often be left with certain marks. These marks can become a hurdle to your vision while driving. A bad wiper is unable to spread the moisture evenly on the windshield and when the moisture doesn’t evaporate fast enough, the problem becomes bigger.

Since windshield wipers wipe your windshield more than a thousand times every time you take your car out on a rainy day, it is susceptible to wear and tear. In fact, it can become cracked and perform poorly even after a single year’s use. 

Solution: You need to replace your windshield wipers every year before the commencement of the rainy season. This is the standard practice and even though windshields are used only once every year, they can wear down pretty quickly. 

#3 High Humidity

Rainy seasons are mostly coupled with high moisture content in the air. That could be one of the reasons why you are getting a haze on the inside of your windshield. If you see condensation on the inside of the windshield, it means there is high humidity inside your car cabin. 

Also, the temperature on the outside of the car is comparatively lower than that on the inside. So, the humid air inside the car cabin touches the colder windshield and releases moisture to leave condensation on the windshield glass.

Solution: In this case, the fastest way to get rid of the haze on the inside of the windshield glass is by turning on your AC and making your car cabin colder. Also, you could wipe the inside of the glass with a lint-free or microfiber cloth. 

4 Ways To Get Rid Of Haze

#1 Hydrophobic Coating

One of the best ways to keep haze from staying on your car windshield or windows is by applying a hydrophobic coating. This will also protect the glass from any sort of contaminants and make dealing with haze far easier for you. 

#2 Windshield Wax

Car Windshield Wax

Getting a windshield wax will help you bid adieu to haze caused by windshield wiper blades. You can even get regular wax instead of windshield wax. You just need to apply a thin coat of wax to your windshield glass. Make sure it is just enough and not too thick of a layer. It will help get rid of the water during rainy seasons and allow you to drive with a clearer view of the streets.

#3 White Vinegar Solution

If you can’t or don’t want to buy windshield wax at the moment, then we have some home-based fixes too. You just need to prepare a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water and put it in a spray bottle. That’s it, now you can spray it onto the windshield to remove the haze. However, if the haze is quite stubborn, then you can always add more vinegar to make the solution stronger. 

#4 Rubbing Alcohol

If you’re in a hurry and need to clean the haze on the inside of your car windshield, rubbing alcohol is one of the best solutions for you to try. It is well-known for breaking the bond between hard substances. Also, it will dry much faster and won’t leave any strain on the car windshield.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get rid of outside haze on windshield?

To remove outside haze, use a high-quality glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Spray the cleaner onto the cloth, then wipe the windshield in circular motions, removing dirt and grime.

What causes hazy film on inside of windshield?

Hazy film on the inside of the windshield is often caused by a buildup of contaminants like dust, smoke, and outgassing from plastic materials in the car’s interior. Regular cleaning can prevent this issue.

Why does my windshield look blurry when it rains?

Windshields can look blurry in the rain due to water, dirt, and oils on the glass, which can scatter light and reduce visibility. Properly functioning wipers and regular cleaning can help maintain clear visibility.

Final Words

There’s not much you could do to prevent your car windshield from hazing when it rains. Although you can try out several of the above-mentioned fixes to reduce the impact of haze on your windshields and also get rid of it completely. Or you can do a car inspection to understand the problem. Driving in the rain is an invitation to haze and causes a lot of problems for the driver. We hope the above article has helped you to clean the haze from your windshield properly and given you some tips to keep in mind to prevent haze.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top