How to Remove Snow From a Car

Snowy winter months can leave your car hidden in the driveway. Here are some tips and tricks to keep you out of the cold and get you on your way on those snowy mornings.

Tips to Remove Snow From a Car

Begin by starting your car and turning on both the defrosters and defoggers. Never leave your car unattended while running. Neither of these are intended to melt snow or ice, however, they will clear the fog on the inside of your vehicle before you start.

Check your brush. It’s important to invest in a quality snow brush to ensure that the paint on your car is not damaged by snow removal. Begin by brushing off the top of the car, all of the windows, then the hood and trunk, and finish by clearing your headlights and brake lights.

When brushing the snow off of your car, be sure to clear away everything. Driving with piles of snow on top of your car can be dangerous for you and for other drivers on the road. The lightweight powder will blow as you drive, and can impair your visibility and that of drivers around you. Heavy, wet snow will add weight to your car, requiring extra fuel to get you around.

Once you’ve cleared the snow from your vehicle, be sure to scrape the ice entirely from all of your visibility areas. All too often, people believe that stopping short, and clearing only a small viewing area from the windshield is good enough. This is a safety hazard to you and other drivers on the road. By taking an extra minute to clear all of the ice, you are making treacherous road conditions safer for yourself and for those around you.

Check your fluids, and be intentional about topping them off before a snowy commute. Topping off your windshield wiper fluid prior to hitting the road will prevent mucky visibility and dangerous driving. The same goes for your gas tank. To ensure your maximum safety, experts suggest that you have a minimum of a half tank of gas before commuting during a snowstorm. This is a precautionary measure, and is intended to keep you safe longer, should you find yourself in a ditch, or off to the side of the road due to road conditions. Having gas in your tank will keep your car running longer and ultimately keep you warm and visible, should something threaten your safety during a snowy commute.

Before you get on your way, be sure to clear the ice from your windshield wipers. If ice is left on your wipers, they are completely ineffective while you drive. In addition, make sure that your windshield wiper blades are safe and ready to use in between snowstorms, to prevent obscured vision on snowy mornings.

Ultimately, nobody likes standing out in the cold. However, taking a few extra minutes before your snowy commute, could increase your safety, and the safety of other drivers on the roads with you.