Simple tricks for effectively priming your car for winter driving
These easy and efficient solutions can help reduce the headaches caused by winter weather as you prepare your car for travel on the roads.
With winter weather gripping the country from coast-to-coast, you may want to consider ways to reducing the amount of time you spend on preparing your car for safe travel.
Here are a few simple and effective tricks you can do for your car to get you out on the road in a timely, but safe, fashion.
Use your smartphone
The smartphone is a critical tool in being prepared for any road trip, no matter what season, but particularly in the winter.
First off, check the weather forecast before you head out. The Weather Network app has the latest information and alerts.
There are plenty of GPS-based apps that can guide you through difficult travel. One that may be underutilized is a compass that comes pre-installed on most devices.
Free up windshield wiper blades
During the cold months, windshield wipers can become a little hard or even freeze to the glass. They can be problematic to fix, but there are a few preventative measures, as well as solutions, if it occurs.
WATCH: Get informed with Kerry Schmidt: Driving in heavy snow
Soak a microfibre cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe each wiper blade with it. This will prevent the blades from sticking to the glass.
Place an old sock on each wiper blade overnight, so the cold air and/or snow doesn’t affect them. As well, you can also fill a sock with cat litter and leave it in the car overnight. This will absorb all the water and prevent condensation.
Park your car facing the east, where the sun rises. This will naturally defrost your windshields every morning so you never have to clean the condensation or scrape the ice off the windshield.
Create a do-it-yourself de-icer using a combination of three-parts vinegar and one-part water, and then spray the mixture on the windshields to prevent ice from forming.
Use shaving cream on the inside of your windshield and then wipe it off. Your glass will be fog-free.
Alternatively, some choose to keep wiper blades up before a snowfall or ice event, so we consulted the experts on whether that is a good idea or not.
During the cold months, windshield wipers can become a little hard or even freeze to the glass. Photo: Pixabay.
Cover side mirrors
Much like the windshields, side mirrors can also become foggy and/or frozen with ice during or after a wintry blast. Cover them up with resealable plastic bags, which will save you time from scraping off the ice in the morning.
SEE ALSO: Avoiding a pileup rests on remembering these driving tips
Use a credit card as a snow brush/ice scraper
Canada can experience some pretty intense ice storms/freezing rain events, with accretion thick enough to break off the ice scraper, or perhaps you forgot it at home. Fear not, you can use a credit card as a substitute. Its hard edges pressed against the ice can help scrape the buildup from the window surface.
WATCH BELOW: 'INSIDE THE CAR' ICE SCRAPING - HOW TO AVOID AND WHY IT HAPPENS
Hand sanitizer to unlock door
If your car keyhole is frozen, which is a common occurrence, a simple trick can help you unlock your car. Pouring a bit of hand sanitizer on your key will help push it through the lock and open it with ease.
Source: Low Price Auto Glass Florida
Thumbnail courtesy of Pixabay.
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