Winter Car Hacks: 14 Genius DIY Fixes Inspired by Mary Anderson, Who Invented the Windshield Wiper

Winter Car Hacks can save you a lot of cold mornings, and the best ones cost almost nothing. Picture this: it is dark, you are already late, and your windshield is covered in a thick sheet of ice. More than a hundred years ago, a woman named Mary Anderson watched drivers struggle with snow and sleet in the very same way, and she did something about it. She came up with the first working windshield wiper. In her honor, we gathered 14 clever DIY fixes made from old towels, socks, pool noodles and other things you already have at home. They are simple, safe and quick, and they will make every frosty morning a little easier. Grab a warm drink and see which ones you can try this weekend..

Winter Car Hacks Start With an Old Towel Windshield Cover

Mary Anderson is the reason these Winter Car Hacks feel so fitting. According to her Wikipedia biography, she was riding a streetcar in New York City on a snowy day and saw the driver keep stopping to wipe the glass by hand. She designed a hand operated blade to clear snow, ice or sleet, and on November 10, 1903 she was awarded Patent No. 743,801. Her first lesson for us is simple: keep the ice off the glass before it ever forms. An old bath towel or a cut shower curtain laid over the windshield does just that. Ready to raid the linen closet..

You will need: An old bath towel or a shower curtain cut to the size of your windshield, two small binder clips and a dry spot to store it.

How to make it: 1. Lay the towel or curtain flat across the windshield the night before a frost. 2. Tuck the edges into the closed front doors so the wind cannot lift it. 3. In the morning, pull it off, shake off the snow and the glass underneath is clear.

Pull Old Socks Over the Wiper Blades

Frozen wiper blades stick to the glass and tear when you turn them on. The fix is sitting in your sock drawer. Slip a long old sock over each blade the night before a cold snap and the rubber stays soft and ice free. Odd socks that lost their partners finally have a job, and a bright pair makes your car easy to spot in a snowy parking lot. Mary Anderson used a rubber blade too, so she would surely approve of keeping it in good shape. Do you have a basket of lonely socks waiting for this?

You will need: Two long, clean old socks (knee socks work best) and one rubber band per sock if they feel loose.

How to make it: 1. Lift each wiper arm away from the glass. 2. Pull a sock over the full blade and add a rubber band at the base if needed. 3. Remove the socks before you drive and leave them on the dashboard to dry.

Winter Car Hacks Before a Storm: Lift the Wipers

If you do not have time for socks, this is the fastest of all the Winter Car Hacks. Simply stand your wipers up off the glass before snow or freezing rain arrives. They cannot freeze to the windshield, and you will not burn out the wiper motor trying to free them in the morning. It also makes scraping easier because nothing is in the way. Check that the arms click into the upright position and are not resting on the hood. Will you remember to do it the next time the forecast turns white?

You will need: Nothing at all, just a quick look at the weather forecast before bed.

How to make it: 1. Check the forecast for snow, sleet or freezing rain. 2. Lift each wiper arm until it stays up on its own. 3. In the morning, clear the glass first, then gently lower the wipers back down.

Plastic Bags Keep Side Mirrors Clear

Scraping tiny side mirrors with a big ice scraper is a pain, and it is easy to scratch the glass. Save your bread bags and grocery bags for this one. Slip a bag over each mirror before a frost and hold it in place with a rubber band. In the morning, pull the bag off and the snow and ice come with it, leaving a clear mirror underneath. Keep a few folded bags in the glovebox so they are always ready. How many grocery bags are stuffed under your kitchen sink right now?

You will need: Two clean plastic bags (bread or produce bags work well) and two thick rubber bands.

How to make it: 1. Pull a bag over each mirror so it covers the glass completely. 2. Wrap a rubber band around the base to keep it tight. 3. Pull the bags off in the morning, shake them out and save them for the next frost.

A Pool Noodle Door Guard for a Tight Garage

In winter, the car spends more time in the garage, and that means more dings when you open the door in a tight space. A summer pool noodle makes a soft bumper for free. Cut it in half lengthwise and stick it to the wall right where your door edge touches. Now you can open the door without worrying, even with bulky coats and grocery bags in your arms. It also works on a post or shelf corner you keep bumping. Is there a spot in your garage that already has a few door marks on it?

You will need: One foam pool noodle, a bread knife or craft knife (adult job), strong double sided mounting tape or a few screws and washers.

How to make it: 1. Open your car door slowly and mark where the edge meets the wall. 2. An adult cuts the noodle in half lengthwise. 3. Stick or screw the flat side to the wall along your mark.

Winter Car Hacks for Ice: A Jug of Kitty Litter

One of the oldest Winter Car Hacks is also one of the best. Plain clay kitty litter gives your tires something to grip when you are stuck on ice. Fill an old laundry jug or a lidded tub and keep a small scoop with it in the trunk. If your wheels spin, sprinkle a few handfuls in front of the drive tires and pull away slowly. The extra weight in the trunk can help a little too. Non clumping clay litter works best because it stays gritty. Do you have a spare jug you could fill tonight?

You will need: A clean empty jug or tub with a lid, a bag of non clumping clay kitty litter and a small plastic scoop.

How to make it: 1. Fill the jug about two thirds full so it is easy to pour. 2. Close the lid tightly and stand it in a corner of the trunk with the scoop. 3. When stuck, sprinkle litter in front of the tires and accelerate gently.

Cardboard Under the Tires When You Are Stuck

If you run out of litter, flattened cardboard or an old carpet scrap can work almost as well. Clear away as much snow as you can from in front of the tire, then slide the cardboard in as far as it will go. The rough surface gives the tire something to grab instead of spinning on ice. Keep one flattened box behind the seat all winter. Stand well to the side while the car moves, and if the car is deeply stuck, call for help instead of forcing it. Would a spare box from your recycling bin fit behind your seat?

You will need: Two pieces of flattened cardboard about the size of a doormat, or an old carpet scrap, and a small shovel.

How to make it: 1. Dig away loose snow in front of the stuck tires. 2. Push the cardboard or carpet flat and tight against the front of each drive tire. 3. Ease forward slowly, keeping helpers away from the wheels.

A Chalkboard Eraser Wipes Away Window Fog

Foggy windows on the inside are just as annoying as frost on the outside. A clean felt chalkboard eraser is the perfect size for wiping a side window, and it does not leave lint behind like paper towels do. Tuck one into the door pocket with a folded microfiber cloth for the windshield. Wipe only when the car is parked, then let the defroster finish the job. It is a tiny habit that makes a big difference on damp, cold mornings. Where would you keep yours?

You will need: One new felt chalkboard eraser and one clean microfiber cloth.

How to make it: 1. Buy a new eraser so it has no chalk dust. 2. Keep it with the cloth in the driver door pocket. 3. Wipe the fog off while parked and wash the cloth now and then.

Winter Car Hacks for Frozen Doors: Coat the Seals

A door frozen shut is one of the most frustrating winter problems, and these Winter Car Hacks stop it before it starts. Water sits on the rubber seals around the doors and freezes them tight overnight. Wipe each seal dry, then rub on a very thin layer of petroleum jelly with a soft cloth. Water beads up instead of sticking, so the door opens with an easy pull. Do it on a dry afternoon and repeat once a month in winter. Which door in your car always seems to freeze first?

You will need: A small tub of petroleum jelly, two soft cloths and a pair of cleaning gloves.

How to make it: 1. Wipe every door seal clean and dry with the first cloth. 2. Rub a very thin coat of petroleum jelly onto the rubber with the second cloth. 3. Wipe off any extra so it does not touch your clothes.

An Ice Scraper Station by the Front Door

How many mornings start with a hunt for the ice scraper? A simple hook board by the front door fixes that for good. Sand a scrap board, stain or paint it, and screw on a row of hooks. Hang the scrapers, the snow brush, warm mittens and a hat. Everyone in the house grabs what they need on the way out and hangs it back up on the way in. It looks cozy and rustic too, so it doubles as winter decor. What color would you paint your board?

You will need: A scrap board about 24 inches long, sandpaper, wood stain or paint, five metal hooks, wall screws and a drill (adult job).

How to make it: 1. Sand the board and paint or stain it. 2. Screw the hooks on about 4 inches apart. 3. An adult fixes the board to the wall near the door at an easy height.

A PVC Tube Holder for the Snow Brush

A wet snow brush rolling around the trunk leaves puddles everywhere. A short piece of PVC pipe makes a neat holder that keeps it upright and in one place. Cap the bottom end so melting snow stays inside the tube, then strap it to a trunk hook or tie down loop. Your scraper slides in next to the brush, and the trunk stays dry and tidy. For more ways to keep your ride neat, see our easy car cleaning tricks. Could a leftover pipe from the garage do the job?

You will need: A piece of 3 inch PVC pipe about 20 inches long, one end cap, a hacksaw (adult job) and two hook and loop straps.

How to make it: 1. An adult cuts the pipe to length. 2. Push the cap onto the bottom end. 3. Strap the tube to a trunk hook or tie down loop and slide the brush and scraper inside.

Winter Car Hacks for Cold Hands: Rice Warmer Pouches

Steering wheels are icy on a winter morning, and these little pouches are some of the coziest Winter Car Hacks around. Sew small squares of flannel, fill them with dry rice and stitch them closed. Warm them in the microwave indoors for about 20 seconds, test the heat, and tuck one into each glove before you head out. Never heat them in the car, and keep them out of reach of small kids. They also make a sweet handmade gift. Who on your list would love a set?

You will need: Flannel or cotton fabric scraps, plain uncooked rice, a sewing machine or needle and thread, and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Cut two 4 inch squares and sew three sides together. 2. Fill halfway with rice and stitch the last side shut. 3. Warm indoors in short bursts, checking that it feels warm, not hot.

An Old Shower Curtain Trunk Liner

Snowy boots, sleds and shovels turn the trunk into a puddle in no time. An old shower curtain makes a free waterproof liner. Fold it to fit the trunk floor and let it run a little way up the sides. When it gets muddy, shake it out or toss it in the wash. A patterned curtain hides the dirt and looks cheerful when you open the hatch. It is a smart way to reuse something that would otherwise go in the trash. Is there an old curtain hiding in your closet?

You will need: An old waterproof shower curtain, scissors and four small binder clips.

How to make it: 1. Lay the curtain in the trunk and fold it to fit the floor. 2. Trim any extra with scissors. 3. Clip the corners to the trunk edges so it stays in place when you load gear.

Finish Your Winter Car Hacks With Felt Pine Tree Fresheners

End your Winter Car Hacks with a crafty one that makes the car smell like the holidays. Cut little pine tree shapes from wool felt, stitch two together with a tiny bead trim, and add a twine loop. Put a drop or two of pine or cinnamon scent on the felt, hang it from the mirror arm, and it will smell like a cozy cabin every time you get in. Mary Anderson made driving clearer, and you can make it a little sweeter. Which scent would you choose for your car?

You will need: Green and red wool felt, a tree template, scissors, embroidery thread, tiny wooden beads, twine and a small bottle of pine or cinnamon scent.

How to make it: 1. Cut two felt trees for each freshener. 2. Stitch them together around the edge, adding beads and a twine loop at the top. 3. Add a drop of scent to the felt and hang it from the mirror arm.