18 Winter Car Hacks That Are Borderline Genius

Stop scraping ice every morning and start using these tips.

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1. Raise your wipers at night and cover them with socks to prevent them from freezing to your window.

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2. Frozen lock? Use a straw and blow on the lock to melt the ice.

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You can also use hand sanitizer to quickly thaw it.

3. Or, use a lighter to heat the car key and slide it into the lock.

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This also works for frosty front doors.

4. Shaving cream works to fog-proof your car.

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It has a lot of the same ingredients as commercial de-foggers. Just spray a layer on the inside of your windows and wipe it clean.

Pro tip: Don’t leave open containers of liquid or water in your car overnight, those will evaporate and turn into fog or frost.

5. You can also use a stocking or sock filled with cat litter to prevent frost.

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Just leave it in your car overnight. The litter will absorb moisture (and odor!).

6. Use cooking spray on the rubber edges of your car doors to keep them from freezing shut.

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Just spray on the edges of doors then rub them down with a paper towel.

Pro tip: This is also a great trick to use on your snow shovel to prevent ice build up.

7. Never use hot water to melt ice on your windows.

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Unless you want a shattered windshield, that is.

8. Invest in a good ice scraper.

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According to The Sweet Home, the Subzero Extendable is the best scraper out there, and will only set you back $18.

9. Use a credit card as a DIY ice scraper in a pinch.

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You can also use a plastic spatula. Just don’t use anything metal or glass or risk scraping your paint and windows.

10. If your car is covered in pure ice, just give the hood of your car an open faced smack.

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11. If you roll your windows down and there’s still ice, you can always try this badass trick.

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But also, ouch.

12. Put gallon-sized plastic bags over your mirrors at night to prevent them from freezing over.

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Use rubber bands to secure them.

13. Clean your lights with toothpaste for extra brightness.

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When the weather is bad, lights are even more important.

14. The penny test will tell you when it’s time to get new tires.

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Ice + tread-less tires is not a good match. See how to do the test here.

15. Keep a 20-pound bag of kitty litter in your trunk to give your back end extra weight.

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This will help your back tires stay grounded on the road. In a pinch, you can also sprinkle some of the litter on the ground beneath your tires to give more traction.

16. If your tires are stuck, use cardboard to help them get traction.

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You can also use the mats from your car interior if you don’t mind them getting wet and dirty.

17. Vinegar + water makes a cheap DIY de-icer blend.

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Use three parts vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle.

Pro tip: Spraying vinegar on the windows the night before can help prevent icing in mildly cold temperatures.

18. Keep a pair of old socks in your glove compartment to wear OVER your shoes.

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This will give your feet better traction when pushing your car out of a snow drift.

If you do get stuck in your car in a snowstorm, check out these tips for how to stay safe and warm.

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Source: BuzzFeed