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Living in Northeast Ohio, we understand the daily struggle of battling ice and snow when it comes to our vehicles. From scraping ice and snow off the windshield to digging your car out of a snowy trench, we have some car hacks for winter to make this blustery season more bearable this year.
This unusual but tried-and-true method is for anyone who wakes up every morning to a frost or ice-covered car, most likely parked outside. Stuffing an old sock with kitty litter absorbs the extra moisture inside of your car, reducing the amount of water that can freeze on your windows, saving you valuable minutes on cold mornings. Bonus points: the litter will absorb car odors as well!
Who knew kitty litter could be such a valuable winter auto care tool? Keeping a 20-pound bag of kitty litter in the back of your car adds extra weight, increasing traction and keeping your back tires grounded on icy roads. Plus, if your car ever gets stuck, a sprinkling of kitty litter on icy roads will give tires more traction.
Keeping another old pair of socks in your car can help in a variety of ways: extra warmth for toes, an emergency pair of makeshift mittens, and most importantly, extra traction for you when your car gets stuck. Wearing the old socks over your shoes will give better traction when pushing a car out of a drift.
Try cardboard. The rough texture (as long as it’s still dry!) will give your tires a large surface area to cling to, giving your vehicle enough traction to start moving again.
Just a penny will let you know if you need to get your tires replaced. Stick a penny in between your tire treads. If you can see the top of Abe’s head, it’s time to schedule an appointment!
Having great winter car tools doesn’t help if they’re not with you when something happens. When the first snow hits, take inventory, and make sure you have a scraper and shovel in your trunk, as well as blankets, a flashlight, bottled water, and any other emergency winter supplies. If you’re ever in a pinch, a credit card or plastic spatula can make a good ice scraper. Just don’t use anything metal or glass — it will scrape your paint and windows.
Discover any more interesting car hacks for winter? Let us know! In the meantime, visit your local Northeast Ohio Rad Air Complete Car Care & Tire Center for all of your winter auto repairs or maintenance services!