20 Winter Survival Hacks That Everyone Must Know

With winter approaching, you might be cringing at the thought of slick roads, cold weather, and higher electric and gas bills. But luckily, with some simple tricks you can make the winter season an easier and more enjoyable one. Want to know how? Then take a look at these 20 Winter Survival Hacks That Everyone Must Know. These winter survival hacks will help you battle the winter months easily and inexpensively. Here’s how!

20 Winter Survival Hacks That Everyone Must Know

1. Use vinegar to prevent icy windshields.
To keep ice from building up on your windows, give them a good spray of vinegar. Just spray on the windows and ice will be less likely to build up. This means less scraping for you on chilly mornings!

2. Use chapstick to keep hands moist.
When your hands become dry and cracked, use a medicated chapstick to nourish and heal them. It is a great way to be more comfortable for around $1.

3. Stock up on kitty litter.
Keep kitty litter in your trunk so if you get stuck in the snow, you can put some down near your tires for traction. You can grab a bag for as little as $2 and it will store well all winter.

4. Protect your feet with plastic.
If your shoes are leaking, place some plastic wrap or a plastic baggie over your socks before placing them in your shoes. Just grab a package of baggies at your local dollar store and keep them in your car for when needed.

5. Keep boots tall with pool noodles.
Cut pool noodles to fit inside of boots so they stand up straight and don’t slouch. Snag pool noodles at your dollar store, or perhaps you even have a few in the garage.

6. Set your fan to clockwise.
See if your fan has a reverse setting. If so, set it to clockwise so it pushes warm air back down.

7. Use cardboard to keep feet warm.
Whether you are at your child’s game or waiting in line on Black Friday, standing on cardboard instead of pavement can help keep your feet warmer. It blocks some of the cold on the ground and helps retain your own heat instead. Keep a small sheet of cardboard in your car for such instances.

8. Park facing the east.
When you park facing the east you will have the help of the sun to warm your car and prevent snow and ice build up. Be mindful of this when parking during the winter months. Keep a small compass in your car in case you get your directions turned around.

9. Make your toilet seat toasty.
This seems a bit strange, but let’s not pretend you aren’t intrigued! Keep your toilet seat toasty by sliding knee high socks onto the seat. If your seat is a full circle seat, you can use scrap fabric cut to fit instead. How clever is that?

10. Use your credit card for emergencies.
Not for spending emergencies, but for ice emergencies. A credit card is perfect for chipping away ice on your windshield if you don’t have a scraper on hand. You can even keep old or expired credit cards in your car (even old gift cards will work) for this purpose.

11. Warm up your wipers with socks.
Lift your windshield wipers up and place socks on them until you are ready to drive. This way they won’t freeze to your windows. Your hands will thank you!

12. Open the oven door.
When you are done cooking and your oven is OFF, open the door so that the heat can escape and help warm your space. This is only advisable if you don’t have small children or pets running around, as it could pose a burn hazard.

13. Unfreeze locks with heat rub.
Dab a little sore muscle heat rub onto frozen locks to help unfreeze them and allow your key to enter.

14. Use a heated blanket.
A heated blanket uses less energy than a space heater. If you are spending an hour on the couch or need your bedroom warmer, a heated blanket is your best option.

15. Behold the power of foil.
Place a sheet of foil behind your space heater or heat vents to help reflect the heat back into the space. Your face will feel warmer faster, and for less money.

16. Use your floor mats when stuck.
Stuck in the snow and don’t have any kitty litter? Use your floor mats under the tires to gain some traction.

17. Try an old fashioned water bottle.
Use an old fashioned water bottle to keep you more comfortable in a chilly room or to warm your towels or clothing up before use.

18. Cover your side mirrors.
Cover the side mirrors of your car with plastic baggies. Removing them and revealing clear mirrors is a whole lot easier than scraping away ice and snow.

19. Place an old mini fridge in your garage.
You can safely store beverages in a mini fridge in your garage and never need to plug it in. The fridge will insulate the cold nicely and refrigerate your drinks for free.

20. Make your own draft blocker.
Fill a knee sock with sand, dried rice or beans, and tie or stitch closed. Place the sock along the bottom of doors to block the cold draft from coming in.

When you give these 20 winter survival hacks a try, you can enjoy a winter season that is more comfortable and less expensive. Give them a try and see what results you can get!