How To Efficiently Clear Snow Off Your Car

As we enter the long stretch of cold weather and dreaded snowstorms, it is important to be prepared. It is always important to keep your windshield and windows clear to maximize visibility, but this can be challenging when you are trying to hurriedly get the snow off before rushing to work. At Wrench, your safety is our top priority, which is why we are not only committed to delivering high-quality auto repair but also tools to help you stay safe on and off the road. The winter months are especially critical when it comes to vehicle safety, so if you notice anything wrong, make sure to schedule an appointment with Wrench right away.

When it comes to clearing snow off your car in the morning, it is essential that you leave yourself with enough time. We cannot stress enough how important it is to build a few extra minutes into your schedule to ensure that you clear off the entire windshield. You never want to start driving to work with only your direct line of sight cleared, because you will lose a lot of important visibility and risk having snow slide into your view. Being in a rush does nothing to help improve your safety on the road and could potentially put other people in danger as well. Do yourself a favor and schedule ten extra minutes to your morning routine if you are living somewhere where you need to clear snow off your car or even just scrape the windshield before you leave in the morning. Another thing we cannot stress enough is how important it is to have effective windshield wipers. This is critical even after you have cleared the snow off your car because there could be some leftover or still piled on top of the car. Additionally, if it is still snowing, or even raining, you want to be sure that your vision is not at all impaired. Windshield wipers should be replaced often and this something that Wrench would be happy to help out with. We recommend new wipers every six to twelve months, or sooner if they get a lot of use. For more information on windshield wiper replacement, click here.

If you are living somewhere that gets a lot of snow, you know how much of a pain it can be to clear it off in the morning. Wrench is here to make that process easier with some helpful tips about getting your car ready to drive efficiently.

• Turn the car on early and run the defroster. This will warm up the interior as well as help melt some of the snow on the outside, making it easier to clear it off.
• Clear the snow from around the car first. While you are waiting for the car to heat up, you can clear the snow from the tailpipe, roof, and hood. Failing to clear off the tailpipe could result in carbon monoxide build-up and this is not something to be taken lightly. It is important to clear snow from the roof because if you stop suddenly or a sharp turn, you could incidentally propel some of the snow from the roof onto the windshield, making it hard to see.
• Scrape your windshield. This job will be made a lot easier if you had the time to heat up your car for a few minutes before attempting. Either way, having an ice scraper to clear the frost will make your job a lot easier. A credit card can be used in a pinch but could result in damage or extra cold fingers. We recommend using vertical strokes and making sure to push all of the ice off the windshield so that it does not build up and obstruct your line of view.
• Do NOT use a snow shovel. If the snow on your car is compact or difficult to remove, your first instinct may be to use a snow shovel that you use to clear your driveway. This is not the answer! Doing so can damage your vehicle and is unnecessary when there are other ways to effectively clear off your car. You can get a push broom for the heavy snow, or wait an extra few minutes for the bottom layer to begin to melt. The lighter snow can be easily brushed off using a snow brush or even your hands if you have sturdy gloves on. Make sure to do this before you clear off the windows, or else you might end up having to repeat the process twice. Additionally, only use the ice scraper on the windows, where it is meant to be used, because it could scrape the paint on the exterior of the car.
• Do not attempt to dislodge frozen windshield wipers. We cannot stress how important this is, because you never want to find yourself in a situation where they are not working. Instead, chip away at the ice surrounding them, and let the defroster do the rest. If you have any issues with your windshield wipers or think that it may be time to invest in new ones, schedule an appointment with Wrench today, and we will be out to your location in no time to help you out.
• Avoid using hot water. It may seem intuitive to use hot water to melt the snow on your car, but this can actually be extremely damaging. Hot water can cause glass to shatter, which is the last thing you want when you are in a rush to get out the door. Additionally, if it is still extremely cold outside, the water could freeze on the ground or even the car, making your job harder and potentially more dangerous.
  

Of course, the best thing you can do to protect your car from the weather is to park it somewhere covered and dry. However, if this is not an option, there are some preventative measures you can take.

• If you park in a driveway, pull your car as close to the street as possible to minimize the amount of snow that you will have to shovel. This will also lower your risk of getting stuck or having issues driving out.
• Investing in a snow blanket might be in your best interest if you live in a place where it is likely to snow a lot. Snow blankets usually span the roof and hood, making it easy to remove all of the snow when you slide the blanket off. If you do not feel the need to get a full snow blanket, you can use a windshield ice cover or even a large piece of cardboard to protect the windshield from ice and snow. This will also save you a lot of time in the morning.
• While you’re at it, get yourself a nice pair of gloves too. You do not want to start your morning off with frozen fingers after using a credit card to scrape the frost off the windshield. Having a good pair of gloves will make the snow clearing process more enjoyable and you will not have to worry about your hands being numb when you are trying to steer.
• Getting your car washed more often in the winter will help prevent salt corrosion on the underside of your car. The roads are often heavily salted to prevent slipping, but this can be damaging to the car. Giving it a rinse yourself or stopping at the car wash could save you money down the road. Again, if you are using water at home, be careful that it does not freeze on the road and lead to an accident.

At Wrench, your safety is our top priority, which is why we are dedicated to bringing you high-quality service and educational resources to keep you safe at all times. In the unfortunate case that you do experience a weather-related accident, we will do anything in our power to get you back on the road. If your car breaks down at the local grocery store, or you get stuck on the side of the road, one of our Wrench mechanics will be out to help you in no time. We know it can be stressful to drive during the winter months, let alone stay up-to-date on car maintenance, which is why Wrench is here to remove the hassle of car ownership and help in any way we can. Make sure to check out our other winter-related blog posts to find out how to protect your car from cold weather and which fluids to fill up before the temperature drops. If you have any other questions about our Wrench services or using Wrench during a global pandemic, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email, at hello@wrench.com, or by phone, at 844-997-3624.