Twenty useful things that every car should have in winter

Real winter always comes unexpectedly. It was already freezing in New York State tonight, and it's only November 3rd on the calendar. So now is the time to start preparing your car for the cold weather. Edition Life hacker made a selection of items for the car that will definitely come in handy during the cold season, and thanks to them travel will be more comfortable and safe.

Photo: Shutterstock

To leave the yard in bad weather

Lock defrost

Previously, ice, bound in castles, was fought with hot water. Since then, more innovative means have been invented.

Most defrosters contain alcohol, which has a low freezing point and high penetrating ability, as well as silicone or Teflon - water-repellent elements. They lubricate the lock parts and promote smooth operation. Some liquids often contain oil, so you can treat the locking mechanism in the evening as a preventive measure.

Start-up charger

The car is unlikely to be able to start in cold weather if the battery is frozen and has lost its capacity. The starter-charger will help to revive it. It is a lightweight and compact device that not only starts the engine, but also charges its battery. If necessary, this device can power a dead laptop or smartphone.

Before choosing a gadget, pay attention to the type of battery in your car, its voltage, battery capacity and charging current, since starter chargers are created for different devices. Also learn about additional features. The gadget is often equipped with protection against short circuits and overheating or an accelerated charging mode that will prevent you from being late for work.

Car shovel

Snow that falls overnight can block your car, and then you won’t be able to do it without a special shovel. Choose models with a telescopic handle: it makes the tool compact and helps you adjust the length to your height. The aluminum handle makes the structure lighter and does not rust. Rubber inserts on the handle prevent your hands from slipping and protect you from the cold.

On the subject: Like a carbon copy: how the Soviet auto industry duplicated Western cars

The materials from which the shovel bucket is made have their pros and cons: plastic is inexpensive, but fragile; aluminum is lightweight but prone to deformation; reliable steel, but heavy. Pay attention to the brand: well-known manufacturers will choose the best materials for you.

Tow rope

It will save you if your car is stuck in a snowdrift or skidding in the mud. The length of the cable is clearly regulated in the traffic rules: it ranges from 4 to 6 m, and there must be at least two red and white flags measuring 20 × 20 cm on it, indicating the coupling. The most popular option for towing ropes is nylon. They have good resistance to frost and do not get wet; they are easy to store. Such cables are clearly visible on the road due to their bright colors. In any case, regardless of the material, pay attention to the breaking load of the cable: it should be at least twice the weight of the car.

Engine insulation

After a long parking before leaving, almost every motorist warms up the engine from 5 to 20 minutes in winter. To make the process go faster, you can use an auto blanket. This is a heater that is placed under the hood of a car to keep warm in the cold from -5 to -50 ℃. A warm air cushion is formed under the hood, which lasts up to 4 hours depending on the outside temperature. At the same time, the car blanket does not lead to overheating of the engine while driving: it does not cover the radiator and does not interfere with its cooling. This thing not only keeps the engine warm, but also helps to save gasoline.

Cat litter

No, this is not a mistake or a joke, but a creative and effective way to get a car stuck in the snow out: just make a path of granules in front of it, and the car will move faster without slipping. In fact, it is better to use broken bricks for this purpose, but the filler is easier to find in a regular supermarket and easier to take with you: it is already packed in a bag of the required size. Choose a mineral filler. And if you accidentally took silica gel, don’t worry - this one will also come in handy: on many forums, motorists claim that it will protect your car windows from fogging up. To do this, you need to pour it into a sock, tie it tightly and put it on the dashboard, if it does not offend aesthetic feelings, or under the seat.

To see well where you are going

DVR

Accidents on winter roads are much higher than in summer. So it’s worth insuring yourself in case of a controversial situation during an accident. For a DVR that you will use in winter, the night shooting function is especially important. You can also use this gadget to monitor your car while parking.

Scraper brush

Without it, it is quite difficult to prepare a car for a trip in winter. A good brush should clean the machine quickly, efficiently and as gently as possible. In the correct model, the pile bends well, and when the temperature drops, its stiffness remains unchanged and does not scratch the paint. The plastic of the scraper must be rigid and resistant to mechanical stress. At the same time, a tool with a too hard working surface can scratch glass and paintwork. In high-quality brushes, the handles are made of non-slip heat-insulating material.

Anti rain

Today it’s frosty, tomorrow it’s raining, and sometimes all at once and in one day. Anti-rain simplifies the work of windshield wipers, and the blades have to be changed less often. When applying a product that contains solvents, polymers and silicone, the liquid component evaporates. Thanks to this, a thin transparent film is formed - a kind of hydrophobic coating on the glass. Water quickly rolls off the surface. It’s better not to save money: a low-quality product can impair the visibility of the glass or will not last long enough.

Glass washer fluid

Always maintain the supply of this product in the trunk: a windshield washer bottle will not last long when snow falls on the windshield for several hours a day and dirt flies from under the wheels of other cars.

To choose the right antifreeze, don’t skimp, don’t buy the product secondhand, study the label. Harmless windshield washer fluids are made from isopropyl and ethyl alcohol. In addition, most manufacturers indicate that the product is made without the use of the toxic substance methanol. Cheap windshield washers may be diluted or contain methanol.

On the subject: How to help the body adapt to cold weather faster

By the way, the smell of this harmful substance is practically not felt, and the non-freezing, on the contrary, smells quite sharply. That is why fragrances are added to them. So the strong smell of glass cleaning liquids speaks more about their quality.

Photo: Shutterstock

Polarized Glasses

Drivers are well aware of the situation: in frost with bright sun, snow, reflecting the rays, glares. This makes it difficult to keep track of the road. Polarized glasses with colored lenses can remedy the situation. In snowy weather, the picture in the yellow spectrum is clearer. In the dark, they will also come in handy - they will help fight the glare of the headlights.

Flashlight

It gets dark early in winter, so the risk of getting stuck in an unfamiliar place increases. With a flashlight it’s not so scary: you can at least try to look at the signs and understand where you are, as well as give a signal to other drivers. For this, a small tourist device suitable for low temperatures is useful. There are miracle models that combine a flashlight and charging, as well as capable of giving an SOS signal.

So that everything is in order in the car

Silicone Grease

If you decide to carry out car maintenance before the onset of winter, include lubrication of the window, trunk and door seals in your procedures - then these parts will not freeze or crack. Silicone grease improves sealing, sound insulation and thermal protection. The treatment should be repeated every time after washing the car, when rubber parts are especially susceptible to frost.

Car vacuum cleaner

If in summer you can do without a vacuum cleaner, then in winter it is decidedly impossible. It will help get rid of dirt, salt, gravel and other unpleasant things from the street, which does not belong in the car. For winter, a model with the function of collecting water, wireless or powered by a cigarette lighter, is suitable. Some vacuum cleaners can become car washes for a while.

First-aid kit

A first aid kit must be in your car at any time of the year. But in winter, the basic set can be supplemented with special preparations. Especially if you are planning a long family trip. Antipyretic and painkillers, medications for a sore throat and runny nose, warming patches and balms, and protective skin cream will not interfere.

Thermos

With hot tea, even the longest traffic jam will be a little warmer and calmer. The advantage of cars is that in this case a thermos can be chosen not for its compactness, but for its large volume for several mugs. The metal case will protect it from falls and shocks. A vacuum layer between the flask and the body will help maintain the temperature for a long time.

A thermo mug with a tightly screwed lid and a lid-drinker does not hurt - it is convenient to put it in a cup holder.

On the subject: 10 US cities where cars are most often stolen

Thermosocks

In the first winter traffic jam, you will be glad that you took thermal socks with you. When choosing them, pay attention to some details. Good socks are made from high-tech fibers with a tight knit at the shin, foot and heel. There should be a flat seam in the area of ​​the toe pads, and elastic bands on the shin and foot that will prevent the fabric from bunching up as you walk. It is good that the inside of the sock is fleecy - this will improve blood circulation.

Driving gloves

What to do if the steering wheel is icy and you need to drive urgently, but the road will be long? You need to wear gloves to prevent your hands from cramping from the cold. This accessory has a special cut. The gloves can be with or without fingers, but their main feature is a crescent-shaped cutout on the top of the hand at the bottom, the edges of which are closed using a strap with a button. Most often, gloves are made from genuine leather, which is durable and has an excellent ability to retain heat.

Plaid

Fleece blanket, warm, light and soft, does not take up much space and will come in handy if some of the passengers need to warm up. The structure of the fleece, which is made of polyester, resembles wool: it allows air to pass through, absorbs moisture and creates thermal insulation. It is unpretentious in leaving, and if it loses its shape, it is easy to replace it with a new one, since such models are very budgetary.

Fan heater

If the passenger does not have a blanket, and the standard stove is not designed for harsh winters, then you can put an automobile fan heater in the glove compartment. This is a small device that runs on a cigarette lighter. It has a cooler and a heating element. The gadget can also be used to warm the windshield or rear window, as well as melt the frost.

Read also on ForumDaily:

How to help the body adapt to cold weather faster

'Vacation will kill you': why Elon Musk almost never rests

10 models of cars that are stolen most often

How to copy: how the Soviet auto industry duplicated Western cars

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.