Well we had our first snow of the season. We didn’t get much of anything and it didn’t stick but reminded me of a few tricks to make your morning commute easier.Read More Below...

• Leave yourself EXTRA TIME. Bad weather will slow you down so get up earlier. Patience and foresight will help get you calmly to work.
• Keep your shovel , ice scraper, lock deicer IN your house. This way when you go outside you won’t have do dig out and unfreeze your tools.
• Do not use boiling water to open a frozen lock. Try other doors and even the trunk/tailgate and climb over the seat often once side of the car is easier to open. At last case use Lock Deicer and carefully avoid getting any on your car paint. A hair dryer also helps
• Sometimes the gasket will freeze. Make sure when the weather is warmer you clean the rubber gasket used to seal the door and put a light coating of petroleum jelly. This should prevent sticking.
• Keep an EXTRA DOOR KEY in your wallet pocket or somewhere else. Many people accidentally lock their keys as they start their car and then get out to scrape ice. Also for remote door locks make sure your battery is good. A worn batter will cause Doing this will save you a trip from a VERY pleasant visit from an expensive locksmith.
• Use a car cover this way you an quickly remove all snow and ice from your car in one shot. You do end up with a soggy tarp but it will save you from scraping. If not just cover your window.
• Change your wipers. They have wipers that have a rubber boot to protect them from icing up.
• Leave your wipers up. This prevents them from freezing to your window and possibly tearing when you start the car.
• Fill your windshield fluid with deicer and keep topped up. Do NOT dilute the mixture.
• If you have snow around your car clear the exhaust pipe BEFORE starting your car to help the car start and avoid poisoning yourself.
• Use mittens they keep your hands warmer.When extremely cold avoid contact with metal with skin (or tongue) you can stick.
• Make sure your oil has been changed and your battery is good. In the cold a lighter weight oil will let your car start better (read your car manual if this is possible)
• Remote starting your car is NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY but OH SO NICE on a very cold day. My wife has a remote start on her car… ME…

Well those are a few of mine that I use and if you have any tips or hints let me know in the comments!  Take some of these tips and you’ll be a bit more relaxed, safe and warm during your winter commute!

Image courtesy of Lin Pernille Photography on Flickr