20 Car Hacks That Can Make Life Easier In Cold Weather
Inclement weather can be a hassle to drive in but it doesn't have to be. Having to stand outside in the cold to clear windows, or not being able to get in your car because of doors that have been frozen shut is a huge inconvenience for anybody.
Luckily, there are people in the world who have the same issues and have come up with some ingenious hacks to make surviving cold weather, snow, and ice easier. There isn’t a way to beat cold weather, but using some of these tricks and hacks will make the next winter storm more manageable.
Use A Leaf Blower
Long gone are the days that you need to pay your next-door neighbor to shovel your driveway. If you have a leaf blower laying around from fall, you can use it to clean off your car and any snow hanging around it.
Its a lot safer than using a scraper that could potentially ruin your paint and works in just a few minutes so you don't have to take up a lot of time.
Stop Engine Squeaks With A Belt Dressing
Cold weather can bring out the worst in cars but it doesn't have to. Not having a belt dressing can make your car drive wonky, make your handling worse in addition to being noisy and squeaky.
If you don’t feel comfortable applying the dressing yourself, then see if your local mechanic will apply it for you for a small fee. It may seem like an inconvenience, but it is a quick and simple step that will make your drive a lot easier.
Use Your Air Conditioning
We get it, the weather outside is cold and your car is covered in snow but try using your air conditioning to clear your windows up faster. Trust on this one.
Cold air clears up windows in half the time that your hot air will and once you are able to see, you can turn the heat on. You also don't have to have the air conditioning on freezing cold either to make it more bearable.
Clear Your Tailpipe
One of the places that snow and ice can accumulate that we may not always think about is in the tailpipe. Having backed up ice and snow in your tailpipe is incredibly dangerous for both your health and the safety of your car.
The fumes can back up into the car and both the driver and passengers can inhale all of the toxic gases that were supposed to be coming out of the car. Sometimes the ice or snow will melt away on their own but check to be safe.
Keep And Emergency Kit In Your Trunk
It's no surprise that with cold weather comes more car issues and accidents than any other time of the year. To make sure you stay safe and are ready for anything that could possibly happen, keep things like flares, flashlights and blankets in your trunk or backseat.
You never know what could happen, but making sure to have some tools to keep you prepared will help out in an emergency. Most auto supply shops will set emergency kits with everything you need.
Invest In A Good Ice Scraper
This tip goes without saying, ice scrapers can be an absolute lifesaver if your car is covered in snow or ice. You can let the heat run and slowly melt off the snow and ice that has accumulated or you can use a scraper and save yourself 15 minutes of wait time.
Ice scrapers have gotten more advanced over time. Whether you drive a large truck or a compact car, they come in all sizes and shapes to suit everyone.
Rub Hand Sanitizer On Your Door Handles
Your car door handles can often freeze over making getting into your car to warm it up impossible. If this keeps happening to you, consider trying this.
If you have hand sanitizer laying around then rub some of it onto your handles to quickly melt away any lingering ice. A natural enemy to ice, the alcohol in your sanitizer will make light work of any build-up you have on your handle so you can easily get in.
Use A Straw To Melt Ice In Your Keyhole
Your keyhole is a very small cavity but is really inconvenient to have frozen over. If you have a straw, by blowing into the cavity you can slowly melt the ice away until you can get your key in to unlock the door.
This hack won't get your door open in 30 seconds but is faster than waiting for the sun to come up. The bigger straw you have the better so that you can cover more space.
Don't Use Hot Water On Your Windows
Windshields are plates of thick glass that has been highly tempered. Extreme changes in temperature, like pouring boiling hot water over a freezing windshield can cause your windshield to crack.
It could be really tempting to pour hot water on the windshield so it makes some of the most sense logically but it can ultimately make everything a lot worse. Check out some of the other tips on this list for safe and easy ways to quickly clear your windshield.
Rub Your Windshield Wipers Down With Alcohol
Even if you happen to follow tips to prevent your wipers from sticking, once you start cleaning your windshield with them you can create buildup.
The snow or ice that was on your window is now collecting up on your wipers and now they are working the way they should. To prevent this from happening, take some rubbing alcohol and wipe your wipers with them before use to melt any ice or snow in the way.
Park Your Car Facing East
It's no secret that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. If you are planning on taking your car out after the sun has already come up then park it facing east.
Let the sun do some of the clearing up for you and save yourself some time. If you plan on going out later in the day, flip your car around and have it facing west for the same effects. It may not completely remove the ice or snow from your car but is sure to give you a head-start.
Make Your Own Washer Fluid
Car maintenance can be costly enough without having to spend even more money on washer fluid multiple times throughout the cold months. Here's how you can save money and make your own!
All you need is a gallon of water, some isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, dish soap, and coloring if you want to make it pretty. It might take a few times and adjustments to get it just right but it will be incredibly helpful and money-saving once you figure it out.
Keep Kitty Litter In Your Trunk
Kitty litter can be used for a lot more than you might think and it can even help you out when you are stuck in snow. Keep a 30-40 pound bag of kitty litter in your trunk when the weather starts to get bad to give those back tires some extra traction.
The weight of the litter will hold down the back of the car to help the tires get a better grip on the road so you can get unstuck faster.
De-Fog With Cat Litter
If you have some extra kitty litter hanging around your house then you can use it to de-fog your windows. Kitty litter can also double as a super absorbent and soak up any moisture that might be lingering around in the air.
To keep from getting cat litter from getting all over your car, place some scoops into socks and strategically secure them in your car so that they can catch anything still hanging in the air.
Use An Old Credit Card As An Ice Scraper
Did you forget to buy an ice scraper this year? No worries, you can use an old card as an ice scraper instead and upcycle.
It is true that it might take a little more time since it doesn't cover the same amount of space as a scraper would. Still, it takes considerably less time than waiting for the ice to melt. Just make sure to avoid using metal cards as they can damage your windshield or paint if you scrape too far over.
Use Cooking Spray On Your Car Doors
This tip is one to use when you know that there might be bad weather headed your way. Take some cooking spray and spray down your doors and wipe it in.
In addition to the added shine, the spray will act as a lubricant and keep snow and ice from sticking to your doors. It will make sure that your doors do not stick the next day when you try to get in your car.
Use A Rug For Traction
While you can turn the heat on to warm yourself and the inside of your car, there is nothing helping your poor cold tires. Cars, trucks and the like can all get stuck in snow and ice but before you get out and push your car, try giving it some traction first.
If you have some extra rugs hanging around put some of them under the tires of your car and see if they can help you get unstuck.
Throw A Rug On Your Windshield After Parking
If you have an inkling that a winter storm or snow may be coming through then before all of that snow and ice gets to your car, throw a rug over it.
Instead of having to use a scrubber or waiting for your wipers to thaw out, you can just pull the rug off your window and save yourself a ton of time. Put a rug on your rear windshield for ultimate efficiency.
Prop Your Windshield Wipers Up
Working windshield wipers are an absolute must in any kind of inclement weather. Whether it is still snowing or raining outside or you just need to clean your windows off, you can save time by propping your windshield wipers up.
By doing this, you are eliminating the chances that your wipers will be frozen or weighed down by ice and snow. Then when you are ready to start cleaning your car, you can just set them back down.
Use Hand Sanitizer On Your Keys
Your morning trip will become a lot longer if you can't even get into your car because it's frozen over. You can try getting in on the passenger side but chances are that it is frozen over as well.
A hack you can use on your keys is to use hand sanitizer on them. The alcohol in the sanitizer will melt any ice in your way and you should be able to get unlock your door.
