Nine Essential Items for Digging Your Car Out of the Snow
Those of us who only have street parking know how frustrating it is to wake up on a snowy morning and find your car completely buried —often made worse by passing snowplows, which further block access. Digging your car out from under the snow can be challenging, but taking a few precautions and having the right tools can make the task much easier. Here’s everything you need to dig out a snow-covered car.
Removing a car from under the snow begins even before the snowfall begins. Preparing ahead will make pulling it out of the snowdrifts much easier. Here’s what you’ll need:
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Battery blankets. Your battery won’t be exposed to snow, but it will be exposed to extreme temperatures. Car batteries begin to lose capacity in sub-zero temperatures, and this only worsens with each passing day. So if it gets cold enough to snow, it will put stress on the battery. A battery blanket can help by insulating the battery and keeping it warm enough to start the car, which is crucial for getting out of a snowy area.
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Car Covers. If you know snow is coming, you can save yourself time and effort by covering your car somehow. Even a simple blue tarp secured with twine or elastic straps will make clearing snow from your car much easier (you can also buy one of those huge plastic bags instead). Other options include windshield covers , which make snow removal easier while also protecting your side mirrors.
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Grille Guards. Ice and snow can enter your car’s ventilation system through the front grille, so purchasing a grille guard for your specific make and model is a great addition to your snowy weather preparation.
After the universe has buried your car under several meters of snow, and the local snowplows have only made matters worse, you’ll need tools to get it out. A shovel is, of course, a bare minimum, but a few additional tools will make the job much easier and faster:
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Remote engine start. If your car doesn’t have a remote start feature, consider installing an additional device . This will allow you to start your car before you even hit the snow, warming up the engine and melting snow and ice before you even have to shovel.
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Snow Joe. Snow Joe is a fantastic tool: a scraper and a snow brush in one, with the ability to attach lights (provided you install batteries, of course). If you didn’t cover your car, or if the cover has slipped and you still need to clear away snow, Snow Joe will make the job much easier.
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A cordless leaf blower. One option is to use your own hands to remove snow from your car. Another option is to purchase a cordless leaf blower or, in a pinch, bring a garden blower to simply blow the snow away. Whatever you do, avoid using a hair dryer or heat gun—watching the snow melt from your car can be enjoyable, but using heat in cold weather can crack your windshield and damage your paintwork.
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De-icer. If your car has a thick, stubborn layer of ice, having a de-icer that will safely melt the ice is a lifesaver. You can buy it and keep it in the trunk, or make your own by mixing two-thirds isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and one-third water. Adding a small amount of dish soap will make it easier to apply, so it will stick to the ice and work, rather than just run off.
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Anti-slip mats. Digging your car out from under ice is often just the first step to removing the icy patch. A few anti-slip mats in the trunk will provide enough friction to lift off the ice crust that has formed underneath your car.
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Tow Ropes. Finally, if you’ve been parked outside for two hours and your car remains motionless despite your best efforts, you might want to ask someone to quickly tow it away, and for that, you’ll need tow ropes . Having them in your trunk can be a lifesaver when all the gadgets and tools in the world can’t get your car out of the snow.