Winter is a time when cars suffer...
And the driver too, because driving in winter can be a really painful experience...
Between the frozen windshield, the fog, the slippery roads, it's a constant challenge!
Fortunately, there are simple and effective tips to make your daily life easier when driving your car in winter.
Here are 12 essential tips for your car in winter . Watch:
During the winter months, the windshield is permanently fogged and frosted!
Even with ventilation, the fog does not always disappear well or in any case, never quickly enough...
To remove it without wasting time, use a blackboard brush.
It works really well and it's easy to store in the glove compartment.
Another very useful tip is to check that your car's air recirculation is activated.
Indeed, the air in your car is already humid. It is therefore necessary to bring in cool, dry air from the outside.
If you forget to turn it on, running humid air will only increase fogging.
While blowing dry air will reduce it.So open the air recirculation fully !
Now you know how to get rid of fog quickly.
But there are also tricks to prevent the formation of fog on the windshield :
- Spread shaving foam on the inside of the windshield, then wipe.
The cream leaves a fine greasy film which prevents fogging from forming. This is the same concept that is used by commercial anti-fog sprays.
- Stuff a sock with kitty litter and leave it in your car overnight. Litter absorbs moisture that collects on the windshield. Find the trick here.
- Before turning off your car engine at night, open the window for a few seconds to let in the cold, dry air.
This dry air will help dehumidify your car overnight.
- Do not leave water bottles or other beverages in your car overnight. In fact, humidity promotes the formation of fog.
Always keep an old pair of woolen socks in the glove box . It can be really useful during the winter!
For example, if you have to push the car stuck in the snow, put the socks on over your shoes. That way you won't slip on snow or ice.
Another use for socks:to cover your wiper blades at night! Just lift each broom and slip it into a sock.
This way, they won't freeze overnight and also avoid getting damaged. In addition, this trick makes it easier to defrost the windshield in the morning.
And if you get stuck in the car for hours because of the snow, these woolen socks will also be used to warm your feet or hands.
In winter, fill your washer fluid reservoir with antifreeze fluid.
It melts the ice that sticks to the wiper blades faster.
It also thaws the windshield if the frost is not too thick.
And don't even bother to buy it! It's very easy to do yourself. Discover the recipe here.
Can't find your scraper to remove frost from your car windows?
Take a plastic spatula in your kitchen or use an old credit card from your wallet!
Prefer an expired card in case it breaks during the operation.
Here is a genius trick to prevent your windshield from being completely frozen in the morning when you wake up.
The trick is to always park your car facing east, in the direction where the sun rises in the morning .
That way, when the sun comes out, it will warm up your car and thaw the windshield. Effective and effortless!
Your wiper blades will also be unstuck.
In the event of a frozen lock, heat your key with a match or lighter.
Then gently push it into the lock to melt the ice. Be careful not to burn yourself!
Another possibility is to use a straw.
Point the straw towards the lock and blow into it. The warmth of your breath will melt the ice.
Finally, you can use alcoholic hand sanitizer.
Simply apply a layer of this liquid to the frozen area. And let the alcoholic l act to melt the ice.
Tired of struggling with frozen doors every morning? Fortunately, there is a simple and effective trick!
Brush the joints with a little cooking oil to prevent them from sticking with the gel .
Or use an oil sprayer to better target the parts to be oiled.
Cooking oil is like a "waterproofing agent t" which prevents water from seeping into the door and freezing.
Cover the mirrors your car to prevent them from freezing.
For this, use a simple plastic bag, paper, or Ziplock or whatever you can find to cover them.
Tie the end with a rubber band, and you're done.
It is particularly important to be seen well in winter, because it is dark all the time...
It is therefore necessary to have very bright headlights that can be seen from afar.
First, have your lights adjusted by a specialist and change the bulbs if necessary.
Then, clean your headlights by simply covering them with a layer of toothpaste .
Leave on for a minute or two then rinse with lukewarm water.
This trick eliminates the opaque film of your headlights and makes them much more efficient.
It's a quick and easy solution, much cheaper than buying a special headlight cleaning product! Check out the trick here.
Always keep a bag or two of kitty litter in your trunk. They will be very useful in case of snow. Why?
Already, they add weight to the rear of the car to allowthe tires to grip better .
But also because if you get stuck in the snow and spin, you can dump the litter under the wheels.
This allows the tires to have a better grip to get out of this bad situation.
If you don't have litter, you can also use sand (see tip here) or your floor mats.
Just lay them on the snow in front of your tires. Don't forget to collect them before you leave!
Weather conditions can be unpredictable in winter.
It is therefore a good idea to keep an emergency kit in your trunk just in case.
For example, a change of clothes can be a big help if you get stuck.
Here's how:
- Open the closure of a thin down jacket.
- Slip into the down jacket a pair of socks, warm leggings, a thermal undershirt, a hat, gloves, a scarf and snow pants.
- Close the down jacket and put it in a small bag in your trunk.
Do not hesitate to take these small accessories that could save your life in an emergency:
- flash light
- blanket
- enough to charge your phone
- hand and foot warmers
- bottle of water
- energy bars
- Swiss knife
- foldable shovel
- brush to remove large amounts of snow on the car.
Now that you know all these useful tips, you can hit the road in winter without fear.
