Winter is hard on taxi drivers. Short days, wet roads, spray from lorries and low sun all make it harder to see, and your windscreen is the most important piece of safety equipment you have. When you are carrying passengers for long shifts, a clear view is not a luxury.
Here are practical ways to keep your glass clear and your cab in good shape through the colder, wetter months.
Start with clean glass
Dirty glass scatters headlights and low sun, so a dirty windscreen is far worse in winter than in summer. Grime, road film and fingerprints all add glare. The inside matters too: a greasy film on the inner glass is one of the main reasons a screen mists up so easily.
Our Glass Cleaner 720ml is made for streak-free clarity on vehicle windows, mirrors and windscreens. Spray it on, wipe with a clean microfibre cloth, and buff to a clear finish. For quick clean-ups between jobs, the AX Glass Cleaning Wipes come in a resealable 40 pack, dry quickly without smearing and are suitable for tinted windows and interior screens.
Add a rain repellent
A rain repellent treats the glass so water beads and rolls away instead of smearing across your view. We stock two:
- AX Crystal Clear Rain Repellent creates a water-repelling layer on windscreens, side windows, mirrors and rear glass, and leaves a clear finish without streaks or hazing.
- AX Rain Away Spray is a 200ml spray-on formula for windscreens, side windows and mirrors. Apply it, spread it evenly and buff it off.
Both are quick to apply. The glass needs to be clean first, so wash or wipe it before you treat it. Treat your side windows and mirrors as well as the windscreen, because those are the ones you rely on when you are pulling out or changing lane in the wet.
Wipers matter too
Even with a treated screen, your wipers do a lot of work, so check the blades regularly. Smearing, juddering or missed patches mean they are due for replacement. Keep your washer bottle topped up with a screenwash that suits cold weather, because it is easy to run it dry when roads are salty and dirty.
Frosty mornings
When the screen is iced over, give yourself time to clear all the glass properly rather than a small porthole to look through. Use a scraper and de-icer, and avoid pouring hot water on a frozen windscreen, because the sudden temperature change can crack the glass. Our Flexible Squeegee is handy for clearing water and condensation from glass and leaves a streak-free finish.
Keep the inside of the cab fresh
In winter, wet coats, muddy shoes and damp umbrellas all end up in your cab. A quick interior wipe-down keeps it looking professional and helps stop that damp, musty smell building up. Our interior cleaning range covers wipes and sprays for dashboards, upholstery and trim, and our guide to a valeting routine between shifts shows how to fit it into a working day.
A simple winter checklist
- Clean the inside and outside of all glass.
- Apply a rain repellent to the windscreen, side windows and mirrors.
- Check wiper blades and top up screenwash.
- Keep a glass cloth or wipes and a squeegee in the cab.
- Clear all your glass fully before you set off.
Be ready for winter with MOGO
A few small products can make a real difference to your visibility and comfort over the coming months. Browse our range of valet and glass care products and get your cab ready.