With winter upon us, and many places covered in snow already, I felt today would be a good time to share a tip on how to keep ice off your car windows, without freezing your hands off. Check out this DIY window defroster I found on Pinterest! This post contains affiliate links and I will receive compensation if you click through and make a purchase. Related Post: Winter Car Emergency Kit
I find myself often scraping the car windows, gloveless, because I was in a rush, forgot the gloves, couldn’t find the gloves or wasn’t expecting a frosty car. My poor fingers on those days really don’t like me, and I don’t blame them. While browsing Pinterest, I came across a photo with a tip below it for de-icing car windows in a rush. Keep reading for more tips on dealing with icy windows.
DIY Window Defroster
3 parts Vinegar
1 part Water
Mix together. Spray on the windshield before nightfall as a pretreatment, or after ice forms. Either way should work.
I was thrilled and immediately told Mark about it. I always worry about putting anything on the car. Mark takes care of our vehicles, and he knows what is good or bad for the car. I didn’t think vinegar would be bad, especially just on the windows, but had to make sure from the boss. He says it’s ok to use.
So next I went to the source of the picture – Coffee Break with Liz and Kate. I’m so glad I did too because they answered my next question, how/why does this work? In their words:
“Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water – preventing water from freezing.”
Alternative Window Defrosters
I’ve been reading up on this tip lately, before winter hits again, and have found many of you tried it over on Pinterest. Some found it worked, others were not impressed. Overall it seems the vinegar can leave your car smelling, well, vinegary. Some found the spray would just refreeze on the windshield. Here are some alternatives to try.
Replace the vinegar with Isopropyl Alcohol. Mix with water in same proportions.
Replace the water with Dish Soap. Mix with vinegar in same proportions.
Replace the vinegar with Isopropyl Alcohol and the water with Dish Soap. Keep the 3:1 ratio.
I would also suggest after spraying the mixture turn on the car wipers before anything has a chance to refreeze to the windshield.
Other Winter Car Tips
Use this spray on the door handles and key lock to open frozen doors.
This winter car emergency kit has been made possible by meori. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
With winter, comes the potential for an emergency situation where you are stuck in the car. From minor accidents like fender benders to larger ones such as sliding off a slippery road and getting stuck in a snowdrift. With a winter car emergency kit, you and your passengers will have the comfort needed in any crises.
Thankfully I’ve never been in a terrible accident, but I have had my fair share of winter emergencies where this emergency kit would have been extremely handy. I’ve tried to keep things both practical and useful. After all, who wants to carry extra ‘stuff’ in their car all winter long. Not me! Four kids and all their ‘stuff’ that seems to end up in the car is more than enough extras.
So I’ve gathered everything you might need in an emergency – whether big or small – and compacted it into the meori foldable box with two compartments. I love that meori has CAR printed on it already, making it easy to see for everyone, including the husband, that this box belongs in the car.
So what do I have in my winter car emergency kit? Let me tell you.
We fit everything but the blankets into a backpack for ease of carrying if we actually have to leave the car somewhere. So far that has not occurred, thank goodness! The backpack itself then fits nicely inside one compartment in the meori box, while the other side fits 4 fleece blankets. Together it all fits snugly in the bag of my Honda Pilot. If you know anything about the pilot, the trunk space is probably the only downfall. Being able to store a fully loaded emergency kit with room leftover is quite impressive.
The meori box has proven to be quite durable. ait’s quality made and holds up well to a large semi-unorganized family. The car box has been fantastic, but that’s not all they have. I’ve used meori to organize inside the house too! Just check out these other uses for inside your home.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DIYOilChange #CollectiveBias
Looking for a really fun date night that will have your man smiling the whole time? What would any guy like more on date night than to do something they enjoy? Last week that’s exactly what we did! I’ve decided it’s high time I learn some more handy skills around the house – like how to change my cars oil.
I told Mark I wanted to learn how to change the oil, I could tell he was pretty stoked with the idea. When I came out wearing his shirt and my holey jeans, he was definitely a happy man.
First was a stop at Walmart to pick up everything we needed – namely Pennzoil Platinum Full synthetic motor oil! Along with the new oil we also grabbed an oil catcher, oil filter, and air filter. According to Mark the air filter should be changed with every other oil filter.
Be sure to check what weight and grade oil your car needs. I would have had no idea to even check that if it weren’t for Mark! You can check your cars manual, or possibly on the oil cap like mine was. Thankfully Walmart has this cool device to find exactly what oil filter you need for your car too.
So let’s get started! Now that I know how to change my cars oil, I’m ready to teach you.
*Please use standard safety procedures when changing your oil. You should always refer to your own car’s manual before changing your oil.*
DIY Oil Change
You will need:
Pennzoil Platinum Full synthetic motor oil – it’s high quality oil is designed to fully protect my car’s engine!
Oil catcher
Car Jack
Car Jack Stand
Oil filter
Allen Wrench
Oil Filter Wrench
First things first is to get the car lifted. I learned that my awesome car has built in reinforced areas on the frame specifically for jacking up the car. How cool is that?! OK maybe that’s standard on most vehicles these days, I thought it was nifty. Don’t forget to block the back tires for an added safety measure!
Once you have both sides lifted on their jacks, it’s time to move to the oil changing part. Before you head under the car, you want to get some air flow going in the oil pan. This I knew, because it’s like emptying any other can of liquid – good airflow means a steady stream, bad airflow and the liquid galumps out this way and that – similar to your laundry detergent bottles.
Unscrew the oil cap, and pull the dipstick out to allow extra air flow. Now it’s time to head under the car! When I first scooted myself underneath I looked at Mark and said
“this makes me really anxious being under the car”
To which he responded
“Good. It should!”
So I felt completely capable at this point knowing I was normal to be anxious. At this point you need to locate the oil pan, and the screw bolt holding the oil in. For this part you need the Allen Wrench fitted with the right size bolt, and the oil catcher. A great reason to do this for date night, is your date can hand you the tools as you need them, so you’re not sliding in and out a bunch.
Here’s a little more inside look to this picture
Anxiety
I totally got this!
Ahh! The wind picked up! note to self and everyone else – don’t do it on a windy day!
There goes the oil! My hand’s dripping, probably should hold that over the pan until I get a rag.
Totally fun right! Mark was having a blast watching my facial expressions and snapping these photos for me. At this point I knew I was totally glad I put on HIS tee-shirt and my holey jeans. He loves when I wear his clothes, and I didn’t care that I was getting dirty.
Once the oil is all out, replace the bolt! You don’t want to put your new oil in, and have it all spill out the bottom!
For the oil filter you’ll use that REALLY BIG WRENCH, and unscrew the whole filter. It’s pretty close to the oil pan, and just hanging down, so you shouldn’t have too hard a time finding it. There will be oil in it, so keep that oil catcher nearby, and then go ahead and put the filter inside the catcher as well. Rub some oil on the new filter, and screw it on. Here’s some key points for the oil filter change:
Make sure you get the old rubber washer off with the old filter. You don’t want it doubled up!
Rub oil on the new filter’s washer before replacing.
Screw new filter on just hand tight.
Make sure you’re screwing it on straight and not crossing threads.
A second pair of hands and eyes was great to have. Mark enjoyed checking my work, and felt impressed with how tight I was able to get that filter back on.
Once you’ve finished up under the car, go ahead and take the car off the jacks. Please remember safety first! Lift the car up with the jack, remove the car stands, and lower the car down.
Now we’re ready to add our new oil! Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil keeps my cars pistons cleaner than 40% of the toughest industry standard. It’s also great for fuel economy, allowing us to drive an extra 550 miles a year vs driving with a dirty engine. Plus with Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil we get a 10 year/300,000 mile Lubrication Limited Warranty!
To replace oil, put a funnel in the oil intake hole – so not the technical term here guys! – and pour in your oil. Check your cars owner manual to see how much oil your car needs. Ours took a full 5 qts.
Replace the oil cap, push the dipstick back in, and feel accomplished. WAIT! We’re not quite done. To make sure you’ve got enough oil in, and you did it properly, run the motor for a minute or two to push the oil through the engine. Turn off the car and check the dipstick. To do this you pull it out, clean it off, and dip it back in. You’re now good to go if the oil is in the right area on your dipstick.
WELL DONE! You’ve now changed your oil. To make it even simpler, I’ve created these printable note cards for you! Print, cut, attach a ring, and you can change your oil anytime all on your own.
Check out these 5 great tips from Eric The Car Guy!
BONUS: If you’re ready to change the air filter, it’s so simple! There are 4 screws holding the air filter in. Unscrew those, remove the old filter, and put in your new one. Now you’re really rocking it!
Do you know how to change your car’s oil? Make it a Date Night and tell me all about it! Check out more tips and tricks for a #DIYOilChange
*This is a sponsored post on behalf of Motor Oil Matters. All thoughts and experiences are 100% my own.*
On top of all the craziness that comes with moving, our van decided to start over heating on us as well. We knew it was time for an oil change, but the over heating issue caused us to rush that sooner than we were planning.
Thanks to MOM – Motor Oil Matters – I felt well equipped to get my oil changed, and feel like it was done right without being scammed because I’m a woman.
You can print out your own checklist, and search for a MOM approved store near you on the Motor Oil Matters Website.
So I took the van in one morning, when I had originally planned some school shopping. No worries, I thought, this will be done quick. After we realized it would be taking at least an hour thanks to our coolant problem, I walked the kids across the street to the city park. We were there for about an hour when a manager called to let me know they found the problem, but they didn’t have the part. It was going to be another couple hours before they could get it from another store and put it in.
No problem I thought. Of course, school shopping was going to be postponed a day, but we live nearby, so we just walked home.
What was originally going to be at most a 1 hour oil change, turned into a 6 hour job of replacing our whole transmission. I am really grateful to Firestone though and their employees for keeping me up to date on our car situation. They made sure I knew what needed to be fixed to avoid future problems, and then took care of me and the kids. They even picked us up and brought us back to the store so we could avoid another walk during the hottest part of the day.
As for the oil change, although I wasn’t there during the process, they did tell me about their computer program that looks up the cars make, model and year so they will put in the right viscosity for each vehicle.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well our van drives now that the oil’s been changed and our radiator’s been replaced.
Keep up to date with MOM and take care of your vehicle by following MOM on Facebook and Twitter
*This post was sponsored by MOM. I was compensated with a gift card. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
*This is a sponsored post on behalf of Motor Oil Matters. The Motor Oil Matters Information and Gift Cards have been provided by Motor Oil Matters. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
Last year I set a goal to learn how to change a car tire. Sadly I still have not taken the time to learn how to change a tire. Car maintenance is so important though, and learning how to maintain your car before an accidents happen could possibly save your life, and will definitely save you money.
AAA expects between the major summer holidays of Memorial Day and Labor Day to aid over eight million motorists, and cautions drivers that auto maintenance is key to avoiding summertime travel breakdowns. Ensuring quality motor oil in your car is one way to prevent road trip problems.
Alright, who here has ever taken care of their own car maintenance? Do you leave it up to your spouse, or perhaps even the car dealership? In the past I have always left car stuff to Mark. With the possibility of Mark being gone working while I’m home packing to move, car maintenance has become a little more important to me, but also a little intimidating.
Motor Oil Matters, or MOM, a new consumer education and industry watchdog program by the American Petroleum Institute, has been established to stress the benefits of quality licensed motor oils and call on to the carpet those who engage in deceptive practices.
I was so excited when MOM contacted me to help get the word out about their program. With their handy checklist, and list of MOM-licensed oil change locations, women and even men no longer need to feel intimidated when getting our cars maintenance done. Print out this fun checklist to take with you to your next oil change!
Who’s up for a deal? Why wouldn’t you trust your licensed oil change location to put the right stuff in your car?
Service-locators can be quick to offer discounted services to people who are looking to reduce their automotive maintenance costs. Make sure your service provider is pouring quality motor oil into your car before you decide on a cheaper deal.
I know I’m always looking for ways to save money, but when it comes to car maintenance, I rely on that vehicle to keep my family safe while traveling around the country. Just like I wouldn’t feed my kids candy for breakfast lunch and dinner, your car needs “good food” to keep it going. So just make sure that that deal your eyeing, is something your car will like as well.
Giveaway!
MOM has been kind enough to offer one of my readers a $50 gift card to go get their oil changed! Can I get a Thank You! for this wonderful program looking out for us? Just like my Mom, always keeping us safe.
To enter to win just fill out the Rafflecopter.
*This giveaway is open to US residents only*
All entries will be verified
Check back next week for a recounting as I go solo to get our car’s oil changed.
I admit it. This is what my van looked like yesterday morning, and for quite some time before that. Disgusting right? I keep asking myself why I didn’t clean this sooner, and then I wonder how in the world we haven’t all been extremely sick. Riding around in a vehicle so extremely dirty, the kids putting toys and drinks in their cup-holders; it actually makes me almost sick thinking about it.
So when Mark needed to take the van to pick up some wood for our bathroom remodel, I made a decision. When he got back, I wouldn’t put the seats back in until I had the car clean. Really clean. It took a few hours, and a lot of 409 and Lysol, but I finished it. When I was done, I told Mark all I want for my birthday is the carpets and seats professionally shampooed. Not your normal birthday wish, but it’s mine.
When was the last time you really deep cleaned your car?
Family trips this summer will be so much nicer if you start with a clean car.
Last week Mark sold his truck. With a possible (and 98% likely) move again in our future, and trying to finish our bathroom remodel, I believed Mark decided to sell in order to have just a tad more money to finish things up here.
Communication was not our strong point that weekend, when 20 minutes after he told me he was selling his truck we had a buyer willing to pay our full asking price. Mark’s reason for selling was to purchase a smaller more gas efficient car that could commute him the 2-3 hours north in search of a new job.
So for the moment we hit a crossroads. I was thrilled to be a 1 car family, and Mark kept browsing cars for sale. Although I am perfectly content for the time being owning 1 car, I know in the future it will come in handy to have 2 vehicles in this fast paced world. So I did what I always do at times like this – I thought about it!
Let’s make a pro and con list, shall we? Feel free to leave me some comments with any pros or cons I may not have thought about.
For now, we are sticking with the 1 car. Not because the pros outweigh the cons. Actually, the cons just slightly outweigh the pros for me. I like to know that if there were an emergency I wouldn’t have to wait for someone to pick me up, or rely on a neighbor to get us to a hospital. That right there provides so much peace of mind, that having 2 cars will be worth it.
However, we will be waiting until we know where we’re moving, and Mark has a job before making this purchase. For now, during the summer, 1 car suits us just fine. I have gotten so much exercise in the last 3 days it’s unbelievable! I love how I am feeling, and how much fun I see the kids having on their bikes.
I came across this blog post, and decided I would take the challenge. I wasn’t sure at the time what my impossible would be, and had to give it some thought. It took me a week or two, but I’ve finally decided on my impossible.
My sister, without knowing about the challenge, asked me this weekend “Are you ever afraid to do anything? Do you do it anyway?”
YES! Aren’t we all afraid of something? Her question was a good jumping off point for me. What am I afraid of trying? Will I attempt it anyway? This year I will!
One of my biggest fears is changing a car tire. When I have to drive long distances I worry that a tire is going to blow and I’ll have to figure out how to change it, or be stranded. Last year as I drove frequently to my parents I was constantly checking tire pressure to make sure that that would never cause a blown tire. During the fall something happened, not sure what, to cause one of our tires to be almost completely depleted of air. Hubs told me it was getting low, but he didn’t seem all that concerned so I decided to run my errands and then put air in it. When I stopped and saw I was practically riding the rim I about freaked. I didn’t have change for the air machines (they really should be free!), and so I just took myself to the car shop and had them fill all my tires.
Right so after all that rambling, my fear is changing a flat tire. My Impossible challenge this year is to learn how to change a flat tire. It will be good for both me and my sanity as I drive. I’ll probably always be afraid of a tire blowing on the freeway, but at least I won’t have to add to that fear with not knowing how to change it.
What are you afraid of? Will you try it anyway? I challenge you to try something new this year. Turn your Impossible into a Possible!
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Related Post: Winter Car Emergency Kit
