Most of the U.S. got pummeled with extreme winter weather this week, with even more on the way this weekend. So, of course, a bunch of ridiculous cold weather “hacks” are going viral on social media. Here are three car-focused ones that actually work, and two you should avoid:
1. Using hand sanitizer to unfreeze door locks. TRY IT. In a pinch, hand sanitizer can help thaw frozen locks due to its alcohol content, which melts ice.
2. Pouring boiling water on a frozen windshield. AVOID IT. It’s been going around on TikTok, but the extreme temperature shift can shatter your windshield.
3. Covering side mirrors with socks overnight. TRY IT. It might look a little silly, but it works. Putting socks or small plastic bags over your side mirrors stops frost forming overnight and saves time scraping in the morning.
4. Rubbing potatoes on your windshield to prevent frost. AVOID IT. It’s been a viral myth for a while. The starch might delay ice slightly, but it leaves a sticky film that’s worse to clean than plain ice.
5. Filling a sock with cat litter to stop foggy windows. TRY IT. Silica-based cat litter draws moisture from the air, which can help keep your windows fog-free from the inside.
(Cinch)
