Getting the Snow Off!

For those of you in the snow climates, there actually is a right and wrong way to clear snow off your vehicle.  Here's the way to do it that will save you time and trouble.

- Make sure you have a long-handle snow brush.  This will help you reach everywhere on your vehicle.  This is especially important for those with pickups, vans, and SUVs.

- Start the engine and turn the defrosters on at maximum setting.

- Begin at the top:  always clear the roof first.  This way, the snow you remove from the roof won't come down on another area you just cleared.

- After the roof, brush snow from the windows, clearing them completely.  Don't just make "portholes", or rely on the wipers to clear the windshield.

- Next, clear the hood and trunk - they will have accumulated more snow from the roof and windows you just brushed.

- For pickups with open beds, get a broom and sweep it out.  If you have a tonneau cover, brush that off.

- Now do the fenders and doors, including the tailgates on wagons and trucks.

- Finally, clear all the lights - headlights, taillights, side marker lights, and any extra lighting you have (roof marker lights, fog lights, etc.)

- Once all the snow is removed, then shovel a path out if necessary... this way, all the snow is now off your vehicle and on the ground.

This ensures that you can now see out of your vehicle in all directions, and that excess snow won't fly off and obscure the vision or travel lane of someone behind you.  More cities and states are passing laws regarding driving with snow and ice that may dislodge from your vehicle while moving, so starting out "clean" may save you a lot of trouble.

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