Tired of scraping ice off of your windows every morning while waiting for your car to warm up? These simple “hacks” will make owning a car in the winter-time a little easier. 

Raise your wipers at night and cover them with socks.

This will keep them from freezing to your windshield overnight and prevent a major headache in the morning.

Use a straw to melt a frozen lock.

Blow through a straw into your lock to unfreeze it quickly. You can also use hand sanitizer on a frozen lock, as the ethanol and isopropanol alcohol it contains can melt ice in seconds. Simply coat your key with the sanitizer and insert it gently into the frozen lock. Leave it to work for 30 seconds and then turn the key! If you have a lighter, you can use it to heat up your key before sliding it into the lock. Just don’t use hot water, as this can further damage your lock once it cools.

Use shaving cream as a window defogger.

Shaving cream has a lot of the same ingredients as chemical defoggers. Just coat the inside of your windows with it and wipe clean to prevent fog from forming and inhibiting your sight when driving.

Kitty-litter as a defroster!

A stocking or sock filled with cat litter can work to prevent frosted windows by absorbing the moisture inside your vehicle. Just leave it in your vehicle overnight. It will also help to absorb stubborn odor!

Cooking spray to prevent frozen doors.

To prevent your doors from freezing shut, spray the edges with cooking spray and rub down with a paper towel. Voila!

Use a credit card as an ice scraper.

Iced over windows and no ice scraper in sight? Use a credit card as a DIY ice scraper in a pinch. You can also use a plastic spatula or similar item. Just don’t use anything made of metal or glass, or you’ll scratch your windows. You should also NEVER use hot water to de-ice your windshield. This will shatter the glass!

Put plastic bags over your mirrors to prevent freezing.

Use a gallon-sized freezer or plastic bag to cover your mirrors and use a rubber-band to secure it overnight. No more iced-over mirrors!

Keep a bag of kitty-litter in your trunk for extra weight.

A 20 pound bag of cat litter will weigh down your back end and help your tires stay grounded on the snowy, icy roads. A little bit of litter sprinkled on the ground can also help get you out of a tight spot by giving you traction. Who knew cat litter was so useful?

Use vinegar and water as a cheap de-icer.

Mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water in a spray bottle for a DIY de-icer blend. Spraying vinegar on your windows the night before can also help ice from forming in mild temps.

Keep a pair of socks in your car to wear OVER your shoes.

Wearing socks over your shoes will give you more traction when you’re trying to push you car out of a snow drift. They can also be makeshift mittens in a pinch!

Use these tips to make it through a cold winter with your car, and talk to a Mountain West agent today to make sure you’re covered in case of an accident!

Source: Buzzfeed