Driving during the winter season can prove to be challenging due to the harsh weather conditions that can affect visibility on the road. Getting the car started and ready to use can also be difficult when it’s been sitting outdoors. To survive winter driving and make it easier to travel during the season, there are a few hacks to try until spring arrives.
1. Replace Wipers Every Fall
Windshield wipers age quickly. The difference in performance between new wipers and year-old wipers is stark during adverse weather conditions. Around October every year, consider replacing all wipers on all your vehicles so that they are prepared for the rain, sleet, snow, and ice of the winter months.
2. Use Rubbing Alcohol
Consider soaking a cloth in rubbing alcohol to prevent the wiper blades from sticking to the windshield when it’s cold outside to ensure that they can continue to work well and improve your visibility as you drive. A mixture of alcohol and water in a spray bottle can also be effective at reducing windshield ice before scraping. This will also keep your wiper contacts from sticking to the windshield when you dig the blades out from under the ice.
3. Rub Hand Sanitizer on Your Door Handles
One of the most common problems of driving in the winter is trying to open the door when the handles have become frozen. Use a squirt of hand sanitizer to melt the ice due to the alcohol that is used in the product, which will make it easier to unlock the car.
4. Apply Rain-X
Another yearly ritual for October, treat your windshield with Rain-X to keep water, dirt, and ice from clinging stubbornly. This doesn’t require a professional application – just a bottle of solution, a rag, and a little elbow grease.
5. Wash the Car
In the winter, dirty road conditions and daily snowstorms make a regular car wash seem superfluous. In reality, this might be the most important time of year for washing your car, according to Utah Lawn Care and Utah Snow Removal. The salt and sand used to keep roads from icing up and improving traction for motorists can corrode your undercarriage and many of your components, and even cause air intake and engine problems if not treated regularly.
Although it may be challenging to drive during the winter months and get inside of a freezing car, there are several ways to make it easier to travel and use your vehicle each day. With the right products and hacks used, you’ll enjoy spending time in your car and reducing your risk of a collision.