Hey, Colorado. Try These Simple Cold-Weather Car Hacks!

Since most of us park outside ...

Perhaps you've just settled into your new home, and you're still using your garage as storage. Or maybe you live in an apartment that doesn't offer covered parking—for a lot of us, garage space can be hard to come by. The reality is, however, that we still need to use our cars, and winter can make that difficult—especially when a big storm is on the horizon. Thus, we wanted to pass along some cold-weather car hacks that'll help you go about your day.

Wrap your side mirrors with plastic bags.

cars Not everybody has an Audi quattro with heated mirrors, and that's okay. All you have to do is place a plastic grocery bag over your mirrors and secure it with a rubber band. Then when you return to your car in the morning, remove the bags and, voila -- ice-free mirror!

De-fog with kitty litter.

If the inside of your car has a tendency to get foggy then take a few big scoops of silica kitty litter and fill a sock or two, then place them in your car. Kitty litter is designed to absorb as much moisture as possible, making it a great dehumidifier. Pro tip: keep the rest of the kitty litter in your trunk so that if you get stuck you can put some under your wheels for traction.

Park your car facing east.

cars If you can, park your car facing east so that your windshield gets as much sun as possible.

Place a beach towel or tarp on your windshield.

cars When you know a storm is brewing, go out and place a beach towel or tarp across your windshield to prevent it from icing over.

Use some cooking spray on your car doors.

cars Sometimes when the mercury drops, your car's doors can freeze shut. To prevent this, spray some cooking oil on a rag and wipe down the rubber weather stripping around your door. The oil will keep moisture away and prevent the seal from freezing. Don't spray directly onto the rubber unless you want to make a mess of your car!

Spray a tiny bit of WD-40 in your exterior keyhole.

cars If you're like me and still use the keyhole to unlock the door of your car, spray a tiny bit of WD-40 into the keyhole. That'll help keep moisture out and keep your lock from freezing. Pro tip: use the red straw and hold a rag under the keyhole. You don't want WD-40 to run down your paint. What are your thoughts? Do you have any tips you'd like to share? If so, let us know in the comments below!