I have been living in the frozen tundra all my life. I am speaking, of course, of Minnesota, and I have come across some surprising and easy solutions to common problems that winter presents us with every year. Wait, did I say problems? I meant the “gifts” that winter graces us with each and every year.
The most generous gift that winter graces us (and our cars) with is ice. Picture it, your frozen windshield and you, together while you are scraping away to make a hole just big enough for you to peer out of to make the trek into work. Short on time in the morning?
Try this tip: Fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spray on your windows the night before the storm. The vinegar prevents the water from freezing.
Ok, so now the windows are looking good. Let’s get in and head off to work! Hang on, we might have another gift upon us. The lock on the door is full of ice and all of the doors are frozen shut. No problem.
Try this trick: Just whip out your trusty hand sanitizer gel and apply to the key and the lock to solve the problem. To avoid the frozen doors, wipe cooking spray on the rubber seals around the doors and rub it in with a towel. You can also rub cooking spray onto your shovel before you begin shoveling to make the snow not stick and easily slide off.
Now this isn’t a trick, but it sure is a good tip: always be prepared with your own Emergency Kit. Your kit should include, but is not limited to:
- First-Aid kit
- A Leatherman Wave (multi-tool like a Swiss army knife)
- Sleeping bag or wool blanket
- Shovel
- Duct Tape, of course (don’t ever leave home without it)
- Headlamp
- Carpet strips (for traction)
- Glow sticks
- Winter attire, such as snow pants, boots, etc.
To stay warm and also save on the electricity bill, try these practical tips:
- Heat up a water bottle and place it at the foot of your bed before going to sleep
- Make yourself a hot drink
- Leave the oven door open after you turn it off and are done baking
- Light candles (it makes a difference)
- Wear slippers and put down throw rugs
- Close doors in unoccupied rooms and roll a towel up against the crack
For cold fingers, avoid tight garments or jewelry at the joints and try using Rosemary and Gingko Biloba. Both can naturally improve your blood circulation.
*For an extra tip and a bonus trick: consider zinc lozenges when you feel a cold coming on, as this is believed to shorten the length of time you’re sick for. If you already have the dreaded cold, rub Vick’s Vapor Rub on the soles of your feet right before bed. To just plain feel better, mix one teaspoon of honey and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and enjoy this remedy twice a day for the next three days to knock out that cold. Cinnamon and honey are known to be antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal.
Finally, to wrap all this up, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy some treats this winter!! Try Nutella and milk together in the microwave topped off with marshmallows. This is delicious and far better than regular hot chocolate. Decorate outside with ice balloons. Yes, I said ice balloons! Fill them with water and add food coloring. Once they are frozen, cut off the balloon and put them out in the snow. They look like giant colorful marbles. My final piece of advice is to be prepared, avoid slipping on the ice, and walk like a penguin.
– Chelsea Williams, JETPUBS Inc.