The holiday season has successfully snuck up on us once again, and you know what that means; last-minute Christmas shopping. Don’t try to deny it; there’s always someone who leaves it to the last minute and joins on the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve shopping. No judgement or anything, but with the snow piling up out there, making the drive isn’t only perilous but also pretty tedious.
There must be a more straightforward way to navigate the frozen wasteland of winter, maybe with a simple life hack. Some that are so ridiculously simple that you kick yourself for not thinking of them before. No shame in being a little extra prepared, so here are a few winter driving life hacks for you to try out the next time you’re behind the wheel.
See Through Your Windshield Properly
One of the most important aspects of staying safe when driving in the winter is being able to see where you’re going. Windshields are notorious for fogging up during this time of the year, making sitting in the car waiting for it to warm up rather unpleasant.
The solution? Grab a chalkboard eraser and just wipe away the condensation. It’s simple and easy to store in your glovebox. Don’t have access to something like that? Then try kitty litter.
No seriously, leaving kitty litter in your car overnight can actually suck up the moisture, stopping it from attaching to your windshield. Just make sure you have a good explanation if the cops end up pulling you over. Google Ross LeBeau, you’ll get a chuckle.
Check Your Tires With Pocket Change
Sometimes it can be confusing whether or not you need new tires. How does one properly check the treads? Well, do you have a toonie burning a hole in your pocket?
Put it between your tire’s tread blocks. If it reaches the bear’s paws, then you still have a good tire on your vehicle. If it reaches as high as the letters though… probably not best to go out onto the slippery road. That is, of course, if you want to spend your holiday bonus hiring a tow truck to fish your car out of the ditch.
Car Door Stuck?
Freezing rain is always a pain in the backside for drivers. Mainly because you just know you’ll be dreading clearing off that ice the next morning. Simply getting your car door open can be a hassle if it’s frozen shut.
Well, do you use cooking spray in your house? If you take a can and coat the internal rubber with the oil, you can avoid the tug-of-war with your car. Just make sure you wipe them clean; you don’t want to deal with frozen oil in the morning.
Thaw Out Your Lock
Sometimes, along with your door being frozen shut, the key lock is also blocked by a patch of ice. While annoying, there are a couple easy hacks you can try.
One, and the most obvious, use your stove or heater to heat up your key so that it’ll melt right through the ice. Just try not to burn yourself. And two, use hand sanitizer.
Seriously, hand sanitizer is usually 60% alcohol, going through ice like a hot knife through butter. With these trying pandemic times, chances are you got a little bottle on you, so give it a whirl.
Wipe Off Your Wipers
When driving down the highway in the heavy snow or rain, it can be pretty jarring to see that your windshield wipers are rendered useless because of one stubborn piece of ice. It’s getting the bottom part of your windshield, but the top is covered in streaks. Sure, you can pull over and try to clear it off, or you can solve the problem before it becomes a problem.
Keep an old pair of socks in your car and whenever you leave the car parked (probably in your own driveway), just stick them on. These will protect the wipers from any ice, and when you bring the socks inside the car, the heat will eventually dry them out, and you can repeat the process. You can also use mittens, old cloths and even plastic coverings.
Clean Your Headlights
Things not so clear at night while driving? Chances are you don’t clean your headlights as often as you should. No judgement because here’s a perfect solution: toothpaste.
Believe it or not, toothpaste can actually help remove films from the lights, allowing them to illuminate the road ahead of you. Simply cover each light with toothpaste and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then rinse away with warm water, and voila!
Just make sure you have enough left for your morning brush. Who says you can’t clean headlights and fight gingivitis simultaneously.
Park Your Car Facing East
Did you know that the sun always rises in the east? Wait, if you did, why aren’t you taking advantage of it?
Especially if you’re one of those poor unfortunate souls with early schedules, there’s nothing more disheartening than going out into the freezing morning and seeing a fresh patch of snow and ice covering your vehicle. Well, if you park your car facing east the night before, there’s a chance that the sun can alleviate some of that stress.
The heat may not completely melt away the snow and ice, but it can loosen it up, making it easier to clear off. Unfortunately, you’ll have to sit in your car waiting for it to warm up.
