We face many driving hazards this time of year. It goes without saying that snow, ice and freezing rain are certainly cause for concern. The fact that there are fewer daylight hours and that we end up having to spend much of our commute in the dark doesn’t help either.There is one danger that we don’t really talk about much but it is just as real as poor driving conditions. I’m talking about dirty car windows, especially dirty windshields.  The sun (when we do get to see it) can be blinding at the best of times,  but combine it with a dirty windsheild and you are asking for trouble.This time of year you really need to make sure you have enough windshield washer fluid and that you are using the right kind. Winter windshield washer fluid should be used anytime between November and March. Avoid using the summer fluid in winter because it’s “water to cleaner” ratio is a lot higher and could freeze, possibly damaging your washer reservoir. It is also less effective when it comes to cleaning salt and road spray.

My entire car, windows and all, was so filthy a few weeks ago I could hardly stand it.  But I was a bit worried about washing it. Because of the below zero temperatures I was worried about my locks freezing. I leave for work in the dead of night, when the temperatures are at their coldest, and if I can’t open my car door then I’m in trouble.  I could just picture myself in the middle of the night trying to defrost my locks with a blow dryer.

So as soon as the warmer weather hit, I was first in line at the car wash. But I was not alone. The lineups this weekend were huge. But it felt so good to get rid of all that salt and dirt and to actually be able to see properly!

When it comes to car washes there are quite a few choices, depending on your personal preference. First there’s the old fashioned coin operated one where you wash your car yourself. If you are a “do it yourself-er” this is a better choice for the environment than washing your car in your driveway, since they know how to safely dispose of the runoff.Then there are the two automatic car washes. With one the brushes actually clean and scrub your car but there is another one that is considered  touchless because the brushes don’t come in contact with your car. Some prefer touchless since constant brushing can damage the finish over the years. I find that the touchless doesn’t do as good a job though.But my absolute favorite, and I have just discovered it recently, is the  full service one where they vacuum out your car, hose down the mats, wipe down the interior and clean the windows. After the exterior wash is done they wipe down your car. You pay anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars depending on the level of service you want.  It takes about 10 minutes and, as far as I’m concerned, is so worth it.