10 Things You Never Thought to Keep in Your Car

You'll never use a frying pan at the wheel, true, but keeping a can of cooking spray in your car is still a good idea—especially in winter. If the forecast looks bleak, pull out the spray, then open all your car doors. Spray the rubber seals along the edge of the door, making sure to give each one a good coating. The oil will prevent melting snow from sticking to the seal, so you won't have to play tug-of-war with a door that has frozen shut overnight. 

Related: 11 Home Hacks You Can Do With a Bag of Groceries

Ice is one of winter's hazards—both on the road and on your car. It's always best to park in your garage or covered carport to prevent ice from forming on your windshield and rearview mirrors. But for those who are stuck with parking en plein air, here's a clever trick. Just open up a few ziplock bags and slip them over your mirrors. The plastic covering will keep most of the ice and snow from sticking, making those frigid mornings way less frustrating. 

Related: 11 Seriously Surprising Uses for a Ziploc Bag

Nighttime driving can be dangerous as a result of factors like insufficient street lighting and poor night vision. When you take all those hazards into consideration, you know that the last thing you need are foggy headlights. If you're having trouble seeing the street, you can turn to an unlikely ally: toothpaste. Just keep a small tube in your glove compartment. If you notice that your lights could be brighter, dab some toothpaste on a cloth, and rub it in to erase dirty buildup. 

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Be sure to store a razor blade or utility knife in your glove compartment. Blades are handy for cutting things in an emergency, such as cans or even seat belts. As well, some people swear that razors do wonders to clean a bug-splattered windshield when there's no squeegee at hand. If you do take a razor to your window, though, take care not to scratch the glass—that's one nick that will never heal.

Related: Be Ready for Anything with 10 Mighty Pocket Tools

This miracle product can do just about anything, and that includes patching up your car in an emergency. If your fender is flapping in the breeze, duct tape can hold things together while you drive to the shop for a more permanent fix.

Related: 12 Things You Didn't Know Duct Tape Can Do

While you normally want to get the clutter out of the car, it doesn’t hurt to toss these items in the backseat or trunk. They might not be the typical auto accessories you keep on hand, but they will certainly be useful when the unexpected happens.

Money-saving, time-saving—and yes, sometimes even life-saving—the latest and greatest smart home technologies span from self-programming thermostats to voice-activated TV controls to video doorbells and beyond. Raise your home's IQ!