It’s winter in New York, which means it is cold. If you commute to school like I do, then you know what a struggle it can be to get up and at ‘em in the morning, especially if it’s snowing. You have to get up at least 20 minutes earlier than you usually do just to start your car and clear off the snow (ugh). If there’s one thing I have learned after commuting through two winters now its that there are certain essential items that you NEED in your car. Here’s five things that you should keep in your car in the winter:
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An ice scraper: This one may seem like a no-brainer but honestly, I’ve been caught a few times after it’s snowed without one. It’s a miserable time as you pull your jacket over your hands and wipe the snow off your windshield.
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Gloves and other winter clothing including a pair of socks: The steering wheel is freezing after sitting for a while! If your heat isn’t top notch (like mine) then your hands are going to freeze while driving home. An extra hat and scarf are also great things to have just in case you’re running late and forget to grab yours before leaving the house. My feet are ALWAYS cold no matter what kind of socks I have one. Sometimes I need to double up under some boots. An extra pair of socks could be helpful in the event that your socks are too thin for an extra cold day or they could even act as a quick pair of gloves in the case of an emergency.
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A blanket: I have about four blankets in my car. They’re perfect to quickly throw over your lap if you need to get home and don’t have time to warm up your car beforehand. They also come in handy if you find yourself in a sticky situation and your car breaks down and you need to wait for someone to come and help you out.
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Jumper cables: The winter weather really does a number on your car. Things freeze, especially if left off for the hours you’re on campus. Finding your battery dead is a sucky thing to arrive back to after being in class all day. Not only does it delay your commute home, but it’s really annoying to have to find someone who has jumper cables. To help yourself a bit in this situation keep some jumper cables in your car so you just need to find another car to hook them up to.
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A tire pressure gauge and portable pump: Without fail in the winter season, my tires always seem to leak air. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve woken up to flat tires! It’s beyond frustrating, but I’ve always been thankful that I had my portable pump in my car. It’s loud and small and takes a bit of time but it ultimately gets the job done and gets me back on the road. It’s always best to make sure your tires are filled up adequately. One bad hit on a winter pothole with tires that have low pressure and it could be a cause for disaster.
I hope you find that this list is helpful! Due to some misfortunes, I can confidently say that I keep all of these items in my car all year round. You never know what’s going to happen (or when) so it’s better to be equipped than to find yourself scrambling if the time comes. Safe driving ladies, stay warm!