Winter Hacks: How To Keep Your Car Doors From Freezing Shut

Many of you probably noticed the icy conditions around Bozeman this morning. I sure did. I usually give my truck a solid 20 minutes to warm up so the ice can melt off the windshield and everything is ready to go. But when I stepped outside today, it looked like someone wrapped my entire truck in a thick sheet of ice. I went to open the door and it was frozen solid. After a few tries at pulling on the handle and chipping at the ice, nothing budged.

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I eventually managed to break into the passenger door. Once inside, I fired up the truck and kicked the driver door open from the inside. Not exactly the smoothest start to the morning. After I posted a video of the chaos, the comments rolled in with some helpful advice that I figured was worth sharing.

A lot of folks suggested WD-40, but after digging deeper, it turns out it can attract dirt later on. WD-40 actually makes a silicone-based product specifically for car doors. Better long-term options include rubber conditioners and silicone sprays. Regular WD-40 and cooking spray are good options in a pinch.

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Another common suggestion was rubbing alcohol. Mixing it with water in a spray bottle makes a great DIY de-icer. It works well on locks and door seams, and some people even use hand sanitizer if that is all they have. A rancher chimed in and said he uses a cattle syringe to get the mixture deeper into the cracks.

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If you have more winter hacks, I would love to hear them. Besides parking in a garage of course, which feels like the obvious winning solution. Stay warm out there, Montana and submit your advice HERE.

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