Best way to...

[dixonmanor]

Manually defrost?


It's that time of year, and although my heat kicks pretty serious ass, defrost is another issue. Anyone devised a tried-and-true method of wiping the condensation off the windshield?

Squeegee?
Sponge?
Towel?

Combo of a couple things?

[KTPhil]

Inside or outside?

Before I got my defroster working well in my old bug, I used to dampen a clean cotton rag with soapy water, and run it across the inside of the windshield. It hazed it a bit when dry, but it broke the surface tension of the water beads when it would otherwise fog up, and instead forms a sheet that doesn't distort/block your vision.

For the outside, use Rain-X to make it sheet off easier.

[TLW54]

Try Rainx. Works great on the inside of the flip down shield of my helmet. I've also used it on the windscreen of my boat, water just beads up and blows away.

[suntour]

I carry a small squeegee in the glove box. One wipe every 20 mins. or so solves the problems.
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Order of the Voodoo Spoon

[Towel Rail]

I've always used a towel, but a squeegee sounds like a great idea.
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1974 Thing -- under the knife
1967 Beetle -- spring/summer/fall driver
1996 Subaru OBW (EJ22, 5-speed, AWD) -- winter car, 3-seasons "don't feel like biking today" car

049 > 070 > 053 > 009

[Ferretkona]

When my wife and I lived in Yosemite we would just walk out with a cup of water before we left the house, pour it on the windshield. We have usually had pretty good defrosters for the inside.

But some of my cars in the past had a inside problem, same as Suntour I carried a squeegee.