You can prepare your car to the best of your ability, and you’ll still need to keep some items in your car for the winter months. This is called being prepared.
Even if you have new winter tires on your car, recently replaced your windshield wipers, and have fresh brake pads on your car, it’s possible to spin out on a patch of black ice. This can create a rough situation for you that will be hard to handle if you haven’t prepared yourself for the winter weather. Putting a few items in your car will keep you safer and more comfortable when your car is stuck on the ice or in the snow.
Do You Know When the Storm is Coming?
The weather is something we all try and stay tuned into. Southern coastal states worry about hurricane season; the midwestern plains focus on times when tornados are more prevalent, and northern states have to deal with snow and ice in the winter. Some states fall into more than one of these categories, but if you know you’ll face cold and snow, you want to pay attention to the weather and know when the storm is coming your way.
When Should You Get Your Car Ready?
The best right answer is “Now,” but not all of us can do this. The best time to put the items you should keep in your car for winter is as soon as you can. Doing this when the weather is heading your way might leave you without some items because of a rush on cold weather gear and snow items. If it’s autumn, you know that winter is next; get your winter car kit prepared now so that you have the items you need when it’s time.
What Items Should You Have in Your Car for Winter?
1. Purchase a Good Ice Scraper and Snow Brush
Typically, these items come together as one long-handled item. The scraper helps you get the ice off of your vehicle while it warms up on the inside and the brush allows you to remove snow from your car without damaging the paint. You should have a scraper/brush combo in your car and one in your house. This means you should buy two of them. If you walk out to your car in the morning and the doors are frozen shut, the scraper you keep in your house will help you get into the car.
2. A Small Collapsible Shovel Can Help You Get Unstuck
Your local camping or military surplus store should have some foldable shovels that can fit in your car and give you a great tool to get unstuck when you end up on the side of the road. Spinning your wheels in mud and muck when it’s cold out is frustrating. With this shovel, you can put more dirt or the shovel by the wheel that’s spinning and possibly get enough grip to get out of a tough spot.
3. Winter Gera and Blankets
Grab a couple of extra blankets that you don’t use in your home, along with some winter clothing, and put them in a small box in your trunk. If your trunk does not have a pass-through to the rear seat, place this box on the rear seat so that you can easily reach these items when you need them. If you spin out off of the road, you’ll be glad to have easy access to something warm when you’re waiting for emergency crews to rescue you and your car during winter.
4. A Few Emergency Items Make Sense
Even if all you do is slide off the road or your car fails to start, you’ll want to have some items that help you in an emergency. Road flares or reflective triangles help mark where your vehicle is located and tell others to drive around you. A First Aid Kit gives you a few items to handle an injury that could happen while trying to get your car going again. It’s important to keep some emergency items in your car for the winter months. These items should be in your car at all times.
5. You’ll find Rock Salt, Sand, and Kitty Litter Useful in Winter
Most of the time, we tell you to ditch the weight in your car so that you can enjoy the best fuel mileage possible. In winter, you need to have rock salt and kitty litter to help give your car more grip or melt ice when you get stuck. Sand helps add weight to the trunk to give your car a better grip when you need to get out of a tough situation. It’s amazing how important these items can be when you’re facing the slippery ice and snow of winter.
6. Some Car Care Items are Necessary for Winter
You never know when you’ll need a few extras for your car. Some of the items you should keep in your car in winter include a jug of washer fluid, a flashlight, jumper cables, rope, and a small tool kit. If you have these items, it’s much easier to flag down help to pull you out of a tough spot or get your battery jumped so that you can get back on the road. The washer fluid is important because we tend to use a lot of this product during winter.
7. You Need a Few Items to Take Care of Yourself
If you do get stuck in a storm, you won’t know how long you’ll be stuck on the side of the road. This means you should have a few items that make it easier for you to take care of yourself during your time. Put a pair of sunglasses, a fully-charged cell phone battery charger, water, and some non-perishable snacks in your car. These items can make your time more comfortable while you’re stranded on the side of the road. If you use the cell phone charger, make sure you recharge it once you get back home.
If you keep these items in your car during winter, you’ll be ready to handle a long time while stranded on the side of the road. You never know when this could happen; being prepared will make the experience a little better.
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