12 Tips To Help You and Your Car Beat Winter
From Life Facts
1. Park Facing East
Since the sun rises in the east, it will naturally defrost your windshield in the morning so you won't be stuck scraping ice in the freezing cold.
2. Cover Your Windshield Wipers
Use a pair of old socks to cover your windshield wipers. This will prevent them from getting stuck on snow. Leave them raised for even easier de-icing in the mornings.
3. Thaw Your Lock
Try using a lighter or matches to heat your car key before inserting into the lock. Just be careful as that key will be hot! Or, try rubbing your key with hand sanitizer. The alcohol in it may help to melt the ice.
4. Keep Kitty Litter In The Trunk
Keep a bag of kitty litter (non-clumping) or salt in your trunk for when your car might get stuck in the snow. Throwing down the litter or salt will help your tires regain traction.
5. Ziplock Your Side Mirrors
Keeping Ziplock baggies over your side mirrors will prevent them from freezing over.
6. Use Cooking Spray
Throughout the day, water can melt in between your doors and then re-freeze causing your doors to get stuck. Cooking spray helps the water from resting in between those cracks in the first place.
7. Save Money by Making Your Own Windshield Wiper Fluid
Mix 2 quarts of rubbing alcohol, 1 cup of water, and 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to create a cheaper alternative to windshield wiper fluid.
8. Use A Plastic Card As An Ice Scraper
If for whatever reason you're stuck without an ice scraper you can use any plastic card in your wallet to scrape off that ice on your windshield.
9. Spray Vinegar On Your Windshield
You can avoid standing in the freezing cold scraping ice all together by mixing three parts vinegar with one part water. Spray the mixture onto your windshield to prevent ice from forming on your windshield.
10. Increase Headlight Visibility With Toothpaste
With the harsh weather and road conditions, headlights are especially important during the winter. Cover each light with toothpaste and rinse off with warm water. (And don't forget to brush snow away from them and your tailights before hitting the road).
11. Fog-Proof your windshield
Shaving cream contains a lot of the same ingredients that defoggers do. Spray this on your windshield and wipe it off for the same impact. (You can do this with your bathroom mirror too.)
12. Socks in the glove box
Socks are always good to have for extra warmth, but you can also use them for traction in the snow. Put socks OVER your shoes for extra grip when pushing the car through ice or snow.
