February 1, 2023 by Anne Kelley

10 ITEMS YOU NEED IN YOUR CAR DURING THE WINTER

THE WINTER WEATHER IS HARD ON CARS, SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THESE 10 ITEMS IN YOUR CAR TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

1. BLANKETS

You might need to turn off your car to save power, and you’ll get cold fast without your car’s heaters. Pack thick blankets to keep you warm while you wait, especially if you drive with kids in your car. Depending on the weather, you could possibly be spending the night in your car, so make sure you’re prepared to stay warm.

2. GLOVES

Frostbite can come quicker than you think, so make sure that you pack heavy-duty gloves. Digging yourself out of the snow is hard enough already. You don’t need to add frozen hands to the mix. Investing in nice waterproof gloves will help keep you warm and dry.

3. ICE SCRAPER

Ice Scrapers are essential to owning a car, and you will likely already have one in your car. But if you don’t, get one asap! A scraper will save you a lot of time waiting for your defroster to do its magic. Not all cars have rear defrost, so you might need to scrape your rear windshield.

4. WATER AND SNACKS

Pack plenty of water and snacks so if you need to wait for help, you won’t be hungry or thirsty. Make sure that nothing you pack will expire over the winter months. If you get stuck in your car, you don’t want to be hungry on top of being cold and stressed.

5. FLASHLIGHTS WITH SPARE BATTERIES

Sunlight is in short supply during the winter, so make sure you have a flashlight with plenty of spare batteries. The light from your phone will only go so far, so make sure you pack a bright one and keep plenty of extra batteries around too!

6. FIRST AID KIT

Accidents come with possible scrapes and cuts, so a first aid kit is crucial. This is something you should always keep in your car. You might want to pack hand warmers into the kit as well for extra protection.

7. JUMPER CABLE

Cold weather can make even the most reliable engine unreliable. Keep jumper cables in your car, so you can easily jump-start your car without having to call for help. If you are really worried, you can invest in a portable jumpstarter, but it comes with a bigger price tag.

8. ROCK SALT

Rock salt is really useful to put under your tires when pulling your car out of the snow; you can also use kitty litter if you already have some on hand. It will give your tires more traction and keep them from slipping as much in the snow.

9. SAFETY FLARES OR REFLECTIVE TRIANGLES

If you end up on the side of the road during a blizzard, safety flares and reflective triangles will help other cars avoid you and also helps tow trucks or emergency vehicles find you easier. If you end up in a blizzard, setting these out can keep help from driving past you.

10. FULL TANK OF GAS

This might seem like a pain to keep up with, but it will save you in the long run. Running out of gas in the winter is an absolute nightmare, so avoiding that is a must. Keeping an extra gas can in your car might be a good idea as well.

Make sure to keep up with your car’s maintenance this winter, and stay safe!

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