20 Life Hacks to Get You Through This Winter
“This is the end of days,’’ you think to yourself as you try to stare longingly out your window, only to find the view blocked entirely by white crystals. At this point, it might seem as though the snow is never, ever going to stop, and we will spend the rest of our lives trapped inside; because the MBTA isn’t running, and our cars are buried under snowy tombstones. Soon, it seems we will also be entombed because “The Great Snow of 2015’’ shows no signs of stopping.
But, fear not, weary winter warriors! We can (and will) survive this most blizzardy winter. The staff at Boston.com has put together an unscientific collection of 20 hacks to make your snowed-in life a little less bleak. Disclaimer: Try at your own risk.
Around the House
1. Don’t shovel.
Just don’t do it. If you’re a 20-something, make sure to only sign a lease at a place where the landlord will shovel the sidewalk for you. If you have kids, make them do it. In the olden days, kids were expected to help with the chores and certainly didn’t procrastinate by begging to watch “just one more Netflix episode’’ before heading outside. A snowy day is the perfect time to give your kids a hands-on history lesson. If you absolutely must shovel, however, make sure to lead from your hips, and bend your knees. You can even sing a song while you do it.
2. But if you must, spray the shovel with non-stick cooking spray.
Imagine this: Your shovel is not a shovel, but a pan waiting to be greased before you fill it with ooey, gooey brownie batter. Spray the shovel like it’s the pan to prevent the snow from sticking. While you shovel, dream of biting into warm, chocolatey brownies with a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top. Once you finish shoveling, make the brownies. You deserve them.
3. Shovel the right way (to the left, to the left).
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The Missouri Department of Transportation made a video showing shovelers how to prevent themselves from getting plowed in. According to the video, you should shovel snow to the left of your driveway, and leave a 10-foot-long gap that the plow can push dirty street snow into. And, if you listen to all of the video’s advice, you should also wear an orange caution vest. Dancing to Beyoncé is optional (but strongly recommended).
4. Make your own de-icing concoction.
Your money should be saved for more important things, like the tip you give to the brave soul who delivers your pizza, rather than de-icing chemicals. Save a few bucks by mixing 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1.5 gallons of water together. Pour the concoctiononto your sidewalks, so they don’t freeze after they’re shoveled. (Your pizza delivery guy will thank you.)
5. Slip and slide that ice away.
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Even hunky Chris Pine isn’t immune from the collapsing roof epidemic. Clear the heavy roof snow with this cool contraption thingamabob that lets snow slide right off the roof.
So Much Room for (Indoor) Activities!
6. Binge-watch Netflix without feeling bad.
There’s never really any reason to feel guilty about spending a day cuddling your laptop, but a snow day is arguably the best day to binge-watch without shame. If you’re not sure what to watch, BDCwire put together a list of the most binge-worthy movies for your snow day.
7. Make time for story time.
This winter storm is worse than the one in ’78 (or so we’ve heard). But you better start preparing your tall tale of what this storm was like, so you’ll have a quality “back in my day story’’ to tell your kids and grandkids. If you tell a lie for long enough, you’ll probably start to misremember it as true!
8. Heat things up on Tinder.
Opening lines are tough, but the snow is a perfect ice-breaker. Here are a few to try: “Hey, let me take you out on a first date in the snow—I promise I’m not a flake-y person.’’ Or “Can you hold my mittens for a second? I usually warm them by the fireplace, but you’re way hotter.’’
9. Everybody do a shot (ski)!
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Depending on your height, you might end up with more booze on your clothes than in your mouth, but a shot ski is the perfect way to liven up an otherwise dreary snow day. Check out this video of Boston.com’s staffers trying out their own shot ski to see how to make your own.
Winterize Your Car
10. You can use anything and everything you scrape off your car!
Those who never clean out their cars will benefit when their snowscrapers disappear. A textbook, a flip flop, a plastic bag, an old t-shirt, anything can be used to clear off snow! Then again, it might be easier to find your snow scraper if your car were clean, but who are we to judge?
11. Use kitty litter to get yourself out.
(AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Pouring a little bit of kitty litter beneath the tires will help your car gain traction. If you don’t have kitty litter, you can use your car’s floor mats. If you don’t have floor mats, you can use cardboard. If you don’t have cardboard, you’re stuck (literally).
12. Spray your car windows with vinegar.
If the cold air doesn’t wake you up when you walk outside in the morning, the fresh smell of vinegar certainly will! Combine three parts vinegar for every one part water in a small spray bottle and douse your windshield and windows in the acidic mixture to prevent ice from forming.
13. Zip up your mirrors.
Paper or plastic? In this case, it’s plastic all the way. Place freezer-sized Ziploc bags over your car mirrors and secure with rubberbands to prevent them from freezing.
14. Shake it off.
(AP Photo/The Oregonian, Randy L. Rasmussen)
Lightly tap the lever that controls your windshield wipers to make them jump up a bit without cycling all the way through. This will leave them in a place where the heater hits the glass to prevent them from icing up while your drive (if you can ever dig your car out, that is).
15. Lather your lock up.
If your car door is frozen, dip the key in Vaseline before you insert it into the lock. If it doesn’t work the first time, allow the jelly to ooze for five minutes to take full effect and then repeat.
Eat
16. Make hot chocolate.
Photo by Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
Is there any drink more appropriate for a cold winter’s day than hot chocolate? Upgrade the consistency of traditional instant mix by using milk instead of water. Also, if you’re feeling particularly fancy, use a potato peeler to create chocolate shavings that you can use as a garnish on the whipped cream.
17. Eat some snow.
Maybe you ate through your snow-day stockpile two days ago, and can’t bring yourself to take walks any longer than the dreamy ones you take the glow of the fridge. Pour some maple syrup on top of snow for a cold-day delicacy. (It’s really good, we promise.)
Go Play Outside
18. Make your own sled.
If you don’t have a sled, use a cookie sheet. Just be careful how much you grease it.
19. Engage in some athletic anger management.
You’re stir crazy, and you’re still holding a grudge against your roommate who never cleans the dishes. Challenge your friends to a game of tackle football, and get your anger out as you shove them into a 6-foot-high snow pile. For a more friendly competition, pile snow strategically underneath the basketball net, so you can slam dunk all winter.
20. Become an Internet sensation.
Photo @BostonYeti2015/Twitter
Not only is this guy warm, the Boston Yeti has captured national media attention for doing its good-samaritan shoveling deeds. If the snow has you feeling like a monster, you might as well dress the part (and get famous for it).
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