Indianapolis residents might still be removing the inches of snow that fell this past weekend, and if they don’t want to go through the arduous process again, it’s better to prepare your car for the snow expected Friday.

According to the National Weather Service for Indianapolis, approximately 2-4 inches of snow are expected on Friday with the heaviest amounts falling in the afternoon. This gives Hoosiers ample time to prepare their vehicles if they haven’t done so.

“We’ve had 7.8 inches of snow so far … with what’s coming tomorrow, we could (total) somewhere between 9.8 and 11.8 for Indianapolis,” NWS Indianapolis meteorologist Jason Puma told IndyStar. “As far as next week we’re talking about continued cold weather and the snow’s sticking around since temperatures aren’t expected to get above freezing anytime soon.”

What to do if you park outside

Before the winter storm hits, be sure you have removed your ice scraper and deicer from inside your car. If your locks ice over, these two essential items won’t do you any good if they are inside your frozen car.

How to prevent ice from forming on your windshield this winter

If you know ice is on the way, go out to your car and cover your windshield. Use a tarp, large towel or old sheet to keep ice from accumulating. AAA suggests holding the cover in place using the wiper blades, weights, magnets or some other method so it will not blow off.

In a pinch, you could also use your rubber floor mats to keep ice from forming on the windshield. But AAA warns that dirty covers may damage your vehicle’s paint, so covers should only be used when little to no snowfall is expected.

“To aid in ice prevention and ease removal,” AAA says, “some [people] soak cloth windshield covers in a solution of one tablespoon salt to one quart water.”

Some people also make a homemade windshield pretreatment of three parts white vinegar to one part water. Apply the mix with a spray bottle the evening before and then wipe it off.

AAA says leaving the liquid on the glass doesn’t help because its freezing point is just barely lower than that of water, and some glass professionals caution that extended exposure to liquid vinegar may cause micropitting of the windshield glass.

Crazy as it may sound, some recommend rubbing an onion or potato on the windscreen. The sugar from the onion or potato creates a barrier over the window and helps to break down the molecules, which favor the melting process, so you’ll come out in the morning and there won’t be any ice or snow on there.

TIP: If it’s raining the night before temperatures start to freeze, it’s likely your pretreatment solutions will wash away before doing their job.

To prevent your car’s door handle from freezing, cover the handle with duct tape to protect the keyhole. Remember, tape won’t stick to a wet surface so dry off the area first and don’t press down too hard. You don’t want to ruin your paint.

WD-40 spray is also effective at keeping your car door lock lubricated and frost-free. Simply spray a little into the lock and it should prevent ice and frost buildup for several days. Don’t forget about the lock of your trunk.

If you don’t have time to run out for WD-40, here’s a homemade lubricant that will do the same job: Fill an 8-ounce spray bottle with one part water to three parts olive or sunflower oil. Shake it to mix, and spray away.

Friday weather

Snow, mainly after noon. High near 27 degrees. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday night weather

Snow, mainly before 10 p.m. Low around 21 degrees. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Saturday weather

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26 degrees. West wind around 7 mph.

Saturday night weather

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15 degrees. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph after midnight.

Sunday weather

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31 degrees. South wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday night weather

A slight chance of snow showers and freezing rain before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20 degrees. South southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Jade Jackson contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to get your car ready ahead of snow coming to Indiana

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