So I went out to start the car this morning and the ice was so thick I couldn’t scrape it off the windshield. When I tried opening the door to start the car and get the heater and defroster working, the lock was frozen. Has this happened to you? I thought I’d look up some essential tips for anyone who lives where ice and snow are common so you won’t be late for work or school. And for those of you living in more temperate climates, keep these handy if Mother Nature throws one of her occasional frozen curve balls and you’re stuck in a personal scene from the movie Frozen.
These 15 winter hacks come from the Weather Channel:
- Coat snow shovels with non-stick cooking sprays – the snow will slide off easier (this also worked on the plastic sleds my daughter and I used for sliding down hills faster)
- Riding your bicycle? Use thick plastic zip-ties around tires for more traction (it can also work on the bottom of shoes and boots)
- Eliminate wet socks; slip sandwich bags over them before putting on shoes
- Use closet shoe organizers for gloves and scarves
- Battle dry skin by taking shorter, lukewarm showers
- Place tin foil on walls behind radiators and space heaters to reflect more of the heat back into the room
- Leave the oven door open after cooking – the residual heat will add warmth to the house
- Run ceiling fans clockwise to push warm air down to living areas
- Open curtains and blinds on sunny days to let the sun warm your home
- Park your vehicle with the windshield facing east to help defrost it when the sun rises
- Use kitty litter or car mats to provide traction if you get stuck
- Thaw frozen car door locks and handles with hand sanitizer
- Spray WD 40 in frozen key holes
- Put hot water bottles or warm pans on cold sheets to warm them before you hop in bed
- Place a tray with pebbles inside the doorway to drain icy, wet shoes and boots to keep floors cleaner and drier
What winter weather hacks do you use? Share them with us so we can pass them along too.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
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