Reddit mentions: The best winter products

Depends on if you're dealing with snow or ice. I'd suggest investing in 3 tools:

1. A scraper/brush combo
   
2. A windshield snow cover
   
3. De-icing spray
   
   I have a very simple scraper/brush combo:
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Mallory-532-Integrated-Scraper-Handle/dp/B000BPLNXC
   
   You may need a longer model (they sell extendable versions) if you have a tall car, like a van or SUV. They sell a thing called a "snow broom" for pulling the snow off more effectively; this one telescopes out to 28 inches:
   
   https://www.amazon.com/SnoBrum-Push-Broom-Extendable-Telescoping-Scratching/dp/B010MFYL02
   
   I have a windshield snow cover, which includes side mirror covers:
   
   https://www.amazon.com/FROSTBLOCKER-Winter-Windshield-Mirror-Protects/dp/B07HFHDH8Q
   
   You just peel it off when you're ready to leave! Pretty nice. Also, they sell de-icing spray to help kickstart the process, if things are really iced over:
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AS247-Trigger-Spray-Windshield/dp/B01D8SRWOW/
   
   You can also get it as a windshield wiper fluid, or alternatively, get a year-round version:
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AS658-Deluxe-Windshield-Washer/dp/B019W8CNBO/
   
   This is the general idea for clearing off your car:
   
   
4. Get outside early to allow yourself sufficient time to prepare your car before leaving for work/school/errands/etc. Set an alarm if you have to. Make sure you have a good pair of thick winter gloves, so your fingers don't freeze! You may want to invest in a remote-start system to help the car warm up easier, because then it can start the melting process without you have to leave your home or office. The modern remote starts can be operated indoors from your smartphone, over a wifi or cellular connection, so you don't even have to get close & aim it!
   
5. Get the car started & turn on the heat to the front & rear windows. This will help in melting the snow or ice & also warms up the engine, which helps melt the ice & snow on the hood of the car.
   
6. Start by brushing off the roof of your car. The top-down approach is easiest because the snow & ice can fall off the car first, preventing double the work later if you were to start with the car's body or the glass. Also, in my state, it's a $120 fine if they catch you driving without clearing off your roof.
   
7. Scrape off all of the windows next: the front windshield, the rear glass, the side windows, and the side mirrors. In my state, it's a $92 fine if you are driving around with an "obstructed view". If you skip scraping off most of the windows AND don't clean off your roof, that's a $212 fine total if you get pulled over (not to mention being unsafe!).
   
8. Finally, clear off the body with the brush. The engine will have helped warm up the hood, so the snow & ice should be easy to slide off. The biggest thing to realize is that you want to use the scraper on the GLASS and the brush on the PAINT. Sometimes you'll have to crack some ice on the body to get enough to grip to scrap off, but see if you can use your fist to crack it first, that way you don't risk scraping the paint itself.
   
   If you live in a slippery area, get some YakTax. It's basically a slip-on spiderweb design that fits over your existing shoes & has coils that act as snow cleats so you can walk on ice & snow: (plus you don't have to wear boots to school or work!)
   
   https://yaktrax.implus.com/
   
   I'd also suggest keeping a few spare items in your trunk:
   
   

• Spare wipers, in case they break
  
• A small shovel
  
• Some kitty litter or a bag of salt for traction, in case you get stuck
  
• A blanket, in case you get stuck
  
  Parking outdoors in the winter isn't too bad if you're prepared - leave enough time to get everything warmed up & scraped off and do a good job & clean off your entire car so you can see out of it & so that pieces of snow & ice aren't flying off & hitting other cars. Try not to use the scraper on the paint either, just the brush!

WD-40 is not really made for anything but loosening stuck things, once it evaporates it no longer lubricates very well.

Try a lock deicer if its is for sure frozen or use a dry graphite spray in the lock after the WD-40 to keep it nice and free.

WD-40 loosens really well but isn't a lasting effect. Spray graphite doesn't loosen well but lasts. They are a perfect compliment to each other.

im actually not going to do this. Im just going to do a water extraction of prestone premium starting fluid. the solubility of ether in water is about 9.6ml/100ml diH2O. I can buy 6, roughly 300ml cans for $20 US. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B99U3X0/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=automotive

the ether to heptane ratio is about 50:50. When you do the actual oz to ml conversion this extraction will yield approx. 887.2 ml of diethyl ether, and 887.2ml of heptane. its a win win. To get the ether out of the water ill just load in NaCl which should work better than NaCO3 and put it in the freezer. bam. ether.

so thats approx. 10.50 US for 800ml. For reference, 500ml is $35.00!
http://www.amazon.com/Diethyl-Stabilized-Ethanol-Certified-Photography/dp/B00CA6FVTW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1369186516&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=diethyl+ether


and... heptane, $66.00

http://www.amazon.com/N-Heptane-Reagent-Grade-99%25-Liter/dp/B00BR6VNSY/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1369186581&sr=1-3&keywords=heptane

it wouldnt be reagent grade, and i dont need reagent grade, but, it's probably not that dangerous to make more pure if you wanted to.

cheers

edit: heres the msds: http://www.msdshazcom.com/COMMON/wcd00036/wcd036df.htm

it says the composition is 70% heptane and 60% ether so... idk what that means exactly..

Can you tell me what state you're in? I'm a MN girl, born and raised and would like to give you accurate advice ;-)

Brace yourself! [There's many options] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000HACYNY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1415070970&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40) and you're going to need one... But I can tell you, more expensive is not always better.

[We live where there are no trees] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000AMKU58/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1415071205&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40) so this comes in handy.

[And lastly, we have pets] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002IJXDA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1415071405&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40) so pet safe stuff is important to me!!!

Welcome to winter!!!

Edit: entry

I always used starter fluid. Ether I think, works great. I would valve in MAPP gas, but you still have to purge and mix fresh air. You can also get hobby size oxygen bottles at the hardware store; expensive but maybe worth the price.

Hmm. I haven't tried this but it seems like the next step: http://www.amazon.com/Fram-Group-AS-242-De-Icer-Treatment/dp/B000R2Z9E8

I'll emphasis the claim that it helps reduce re-freeze. But if it refreezes, perhaps another spray will do.

This situation is a pain in the ass but I think it's worth it to not have a full door frame. Opening my door with the window down in the summer makes me feel like a cool guy.

It's a bit of a controversial topic (some say never use it or you'll blow your engine, others say go right ahead) but if you're interested this is something you could use. You spray a tiny amount into the airbox and your engine will start 9/10 times.


I still have an issue with my bike at idle on hot days which leads me to believe it's my fuel pump, but my bike has not had trouble starting since that initial spray

If you want to use your windshield wipers to get rid of the frost.

If you want to manually get rid of the frost.

Both will pretty much instantly melt anything except a large build up of ice.

I guess, if you consider 85% ether ditulted.

Looks like you can also buy the 99% stuff for old photo developing applications as well.

Wait, so are the mirrors heated or not? You could just keep a small bottle of de-ice spray in your car. If the mirrors are frozen, spray them a few times before you start driving. Should melt pretty fast.

CRC 05346 12 oz Ice-Off Spray De-Icer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M8H65C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_H8C2BbYH0JR4Q

get a lock de-icer, pretty normal in winter around here
de-icer

Every spring the hardware stores and gas stations sell lock de-icer for a quarter. I see them for $1.50 most of the time.

The flashlight trick is cool, but keeping one of those de-icers in your pocket is a good winter EDC. The bigger problem is having your door be frozen shut and pulling your door handle clean off. I used to keep a full size de-icer can at my desk to avoid that.

https://www.amazon.com/Cr-05346-2-Pack/dp/B01MREVG0U/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1479467853&sr=1-1&keywords=ice+remover

Thank me later.

Kinda like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Prestone-Windshield-De-Icer-11-Oz/dp/B000R2Z9E8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420046953&sr=8-2&keywords=de-icer+scraper

Tesla recommends this spray https://www.amazon.com/CRC-05346-Ice-Off-Windshield-Spray/dp/B01MRF02WS

Yes, it’s a spray can called Starting Fluid. Many brands, but here’s one. www.amazon.com/dp/B001GLSIKG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_lRxFDbM73SZAP

I suggest you get these. I had them on a keychain only for the winter months for each vehicle.


https://m.autozone.com/deicer-and-starting-fluid/de-icer/victor-lock-de-icer/128353_0_0


Victor Lock De-Icer Lubricant Aerosol .62 FL OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AMKU58/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_skxZDbHGA990K

They make an actual product for this.

https://www.amazon.com/Victor-Lock-Icer-Lubricant-Aerosol/dp/B000AMKU58

After what happened to me, on the coldest day, last winter, I bought this and keep one in my bag at all times. Trust me, having your lock piss off while bracing the winter winds is not fun.

1 can of de-icer goes a long way! It melts snow and ice instantly even on those pesky -30 degree days. Example

Source: I live in Wisconsin

Being lazy. I discover this (its cheaper at Walmart, and Auto Zone). You spray it on your windshield. Then you wait a min and turn on wiper blades on. It takes the ice right off.

I'll pay for the pyrodex and ether and ship it to whoever has the space and will film it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q4DX9E
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Pyrodex-Powder-lb/740637.uts

Shouldn't cost more than ~$74 + tax + S&H

edit:

I should have thought this through. I don't want to accidentally aid someone looking to do harm.

Try finding some engine starter spry like this. It's compassed ether in a can and makes one hell of a flame thrower. It will fuck your shit up. Make a video of you lighting your friends on fire form across the room and post it here..aw reminds me of my pyro days.