how to prep your car for winter so youre safe and ready for anything

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How to Prep Your Car for Winter So You're Safe and Ready for Anything

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Slick winter weather can cause hazardous driving conditions and increase the chances of accidents. While you must learn how to drive in winter conditions and learn winter emergency preparedness, your car should also be up for the challenge. One of the most critical maintenance tasks is to have the vehicle serviced and change your oil to a winter-grade, lower-viscosity oil. Doing so can keep your engine well-lubricated even as temperatures drop and reduce the risk of damage to the car's hardware. There are also several other tasks you should complete before winter hits to make sure your car is ready. Here are expert tips on how to prep your car for winter to keep you safer during colder weather conditions.

Ensure tires are winter-ready

Well-maintained tires are essential to ensure traction and grip on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. So it's important to check tire depth and treads before temperatures drop. Keep close watch over air pressure and wheel alignment, too. "Make sure your tires are winter-ready, not too worn down, and are properly inflated," advises Alex Mario, personal injury attorney at the Carter Mario Law Firm. "Bald tires will cause bad traction, and deflated or overinflated tires are more likely to tear. Both are recipes for disaster." You can find the recommended tire pressure in your car's user manual or inside the driver's side door.

If you live in a place that experiences freezing winter temperatures, consider installing winter tires and making sure your donut (or spare tire) is also winter ready. The rubber compounds in non-winter tires typically harden when temperatures are consistently around or below freezing. Winter tires are engineered to resist hardening, thus providing better traction in icy or snowy pavement.

Inspect the brakes

Brakes are a key part of vehicle safety. During the winter time more than ever, you need them to react quickly to sudden stops and starts. "Make sure to get your brakes inspected around this time of year," Mario says. "Too-thin brake pads or low brake fluid could be the difference between being able to stop a catastrophe."

Also, check the belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires, and cables. While these could go bad any time of year, you especially don’t want to end up stranded in freezing temperatures. Remember to check your lights (signal lights, high beams, and blinkers) to ensure they are working correctly, too. Replace bulbs or fuses if necessary.

Install winter wipers and washer fluid

Snow, sleet, ice, road salt, and rain can dirty your windshield and significantly reduce visibility.

For icy areas, swap regular wipers for heavy-duty winter-specific ones equipped with a rubber that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. Remember to replace the washer reservoir with winter-grade washer fluid that resists freezing. A single snowstorm can exhaust the reservoir, so refill it frequently to avoid running out in the middle of a storm. If you’re unsure if the washer liquid is the right formula for low temperatures, add anti-freeze to the reservoir.

“Check your windshield for any cracks and address them before the weather gets cold," adds Jeramy Sibley, president of Glass Doctor, a Neighborly company. "Exposing your vehicle to extreme temperatures can cause the crack to expand quickly.”

Test car batteries

A dead battery can also be a nightmare in the wintertime. "Cold weather can cause batteries to drain," says Mario. "Testing your battery at the start of the winter season can give you some peace of mind and avoid conking out on the side of the road." The risk of your car breaking down during winter increases if the battery already has problems. A battery at or above 600 cold cranking amp (CCA) is ideal for optimal winter performance.

Corrosion build-up on battery posts and terminals can result in hard starting problems in cold weather, preventing your charging systems from recharging the battery. Ensuring your battery terminals are cleaned properly is another vital task in preparing your car for winter. Reduce future corrosion by applying a battery terminal protectant spray.

Check the cooling system

Coolant is a mixture of water and anti-freeze that pumps around your engine to cool it down. You need an appropriate coolant-to-water ratio to guard against corrosion and potential freezing. Consult a technician or mechanic to confirm your car's specific needs ahead of winter.

Keep the gas tank at least half full

Cars tend to use more fuel in both heavy traffic conditions and while heaters are running inside the car. Thus, a full tank will ensure you don't run out before arriving at your destination. A full tank also reduces condensation, preventing gas line freeze-ups. If you are stranded in the winter, you can keep the engine running to keep warm until help arrives.

If you're using an electric or hybrid vehicle, remember to map out unfamiliar routes so you always know where you can recharge.

Inspect the weatherstripping

"Repair or replace [the weatherstripping] to help keep heat in and cold air out,” Sibley says. You can lubricate window tracks to prevent freezing water from seeping in and creating drag. Wiping silicon lube onto your door, locks, and latches can help keep freezing air from getting inside the car.

Pack a winter safety kit

Emergencies happen, so it's always smart to keep your car stocked with a number of items that will help you deal with a car breakdown or accident in the middle of winter. Sibley suggests stocking your car with an ice scraper, snow brush, shovel, road flares, flashlight, first aid kit, jumper cables, and spare gas.

Mario also suggests keeping food, water, and extra warm clothing in the car. For traction, keep sand bags or kitty litter in the trunk to get out of a bad winter weather situation.

My New Prop Garage Reveal – Including IKEA Shelving (Non-Spon) And A Lot Of Vintage Collections

Iam a new person. Transformed! The fact that there aren’t more before/after shows for the “chronically disorganized” (me!) is a real missed TV opportunity. Now, I do give myself grace because the amount of stuff one has to have to do this job, run this company, and create so much design content so frequently is extreme (occupational hazard – just the way it is). And even with a team of people, it’s impossible to keep it organized unless you have what we now have – a dedicated space, with IKEA shelving and cabinets, labels, color-coded shelves, THE WORKS. Without systems, there is chaos!!!! And Houston, we now have systems. For those of you who want to jump to the reveal, you can watch our latest YouTube video right here. I couldn’t love it any more. When we bought the property, this was the garage – full of potential and spiders/dampness. We always knew that one of the perks of buying the property with so many outbuildings would be that we could have prop storage within reach (crucial to running the business), but not when they looked like this… She was in rough shape. A slab had been poured in the last 20 years (we think), but otherwise it was “vintage”. So my brother’s company, Afore, set to restore and repair it, using the existing footprint and structure (and slab). They reinforced the framing, scissoring where they needed to, replacing other boards, but we really tried to save money by using the original wood. We opted to get rid of the broken windows, choosing functional wall space over a weird fence view. We updated the simple electrical and panneled it all. January 2025 – Construction Progress As you can see, the four bays remained the same, just fixed for new garage doors. The two on the left would be furniture store, holiday, and “Henderson life stuff”, while the two on the right would be smaller props, tools, supplies – all the stuff that needed a true dedicated space. Brian’s truck would go on the far left (and to save money, we made it just a covered carport without a slab, electrical or garage doors, and just a corrugated roof). Initially, we were going to leave the original ceiling (it was pretty!), but we ended up cladding over it just to keep it as clean, insulated, and simple as possible. We needed to add recessed lighting so the paneling covered up the wiring, and honestly, we just didn’t want to deal with spiders and the potentially ickiness ever again. The Old Prop House – Carriage House As a reminder, we had everything on shelving in the only “not-totally-damp” room in the carriage house. Things were not staying in great shape, and we needed to start restoring this house, so it was time to fix the garages so we could have safe, dry storage. June 2025 – DONE!!!! And I’m So Happy Last week, I showed off the prettiest garage doors ever (by Clopay, installed by local company Ponderosa) that we are legit obsessed with. Head over to this post to read alllllllll about our doors and the color, etc. Once open, those doors really create this indoor/outdoor workspace which we all love being in (besides the fact that there is spotty wifi out here – fixing that asap). It’s a huge garage, extremely functional and tidy, and I spend far more time in here than predicted. The After After…My New Favorite Space It’s so much space, and so organized with the right dedicated storage for every type of thing. We have three sides of storage – the shallow shelves on the left, the deep closed storage on the back, and then deep shelves on the right. I mapped it all out beforehand, and I think I did a fantastic job if I do say so myself! In front of the PAX units (which I want to discuss more below), we have our old vintage kitchen table from LA that I have been hoarding, and my beloved Cherner chairs (which admittedly shouldn’t be in a garage, but they aren’t comfortable enough for our day-to-day chairs – so squeaky!). We use this table to pull props and pack them up, but also we have been meeting out here while the kids have been running feral all summer. It’s oddly peaceful and quiet out here. While it’s likely not our year-round “studio,” it’s reallly nice not to always work in my sunroom and have some separation (we are hybrid, so unless we are meeting or shooting, everyone does computer work from home). Are The IKEA PAX Units Good Enough For Garage Shelves?? I saw a lot of comments after I posted about how we had installed the PAX units. A few of you mentioned they aren’t strong enough for true garage storage (based on your experience). So before you do what I did, do more research (than I did). So far we are fine, but as you can see, we do have some stacks of dishes which are rather heavy, and I think I’m going to disperse based on your advice. For the most part, what is in these units isn’t heavy, but if you have heavy bins of garage “stuff,” then based on the comments, you’d want to get the kitchen cabinetry from IKEA. This is our tabletop cabinet as you can see, pared down and super organized. The labels are my boss!!! In the other prop house, these were stacked in a bookshelf and were a total disaster. Here they are stacked perfectly and dust/spider-free. I bought the IKEA organizers for inside that work fine for the flatware. On the left is oversized art and mirrors (which I organized in that cute little wall-mounted art organizer). More IKEA Shelving! This is my favorite wall – so many pretty things that we pull for shoots, rotate in and out of my house, and I think I have a story about every single thing (not saying it’s healthy, just giving the facts). Most of this is vintage or one-of-a-kind (with a decent amount of really useful Anthro, CB2, and Target mixed in here). I had so much fun organizing everything by color – forcing Marlee and Gretchen into a personal show-and-tell monologue about each thing that had a story. Yes, I’m a hoarder of pretty things, and I accept this full accountability (I also purge a lot – and trust me, you want to be friends with “purging Emily”). I’m glad that most of you are likely design enthusiasts and aren’t judging but instead admiring (but it’s ok if you don’t get it, too!) Let me be clear, this is post-purge. As in this is the stuff that made the cut, either because I use it a lot, or it’s somehow special to me, or it’s new and I haven’t found its permanent home yet. On the other side is “Lamp Land,” which houses (you guessed it) all the lighting, as well as art and fabric. How can a photo of shelves of stuff make me so happy???? I guess I see years of collecting (dopamine burst after dopamine burst) mixed with excitement for future projects. Now that I can see everything clearly, I can really place them in future projects (that I know of). I’ve gotten pretty great and knowing what I should keep versus what I really don’t think I need to store any longer. All of this made the cut. Lamps, baskets, small inside pots, and large vessels – everything has a place, and it’s visually so clear. On the bottom row lie row after row of fabric bins that I bought specifically to fit in here side by side, and with a vinyl window to show me what is inside. Admittedly, they look squished, but they do the job assigned to them so well and can fit a LOT. I’m pretty obsessed with these art dividers (pot lid organizers work, too). I bought these from Amazon, with the larger rolling ones here and the smaller art dividers here. These make me feel on top of the world, TBH, and I’m so excited that my art will stop getting damaged by being thrown around. How smart are these rolling art carts? Very specific to my needs (not an every garage staple), but they work so well for our needs. We keep them in front of the door, which we aren’t really using (we might in the winter) because the garage doors open so easily and quickly. It’s such a dream. And a big shout out to the Clopay garage doors that open and close so quietly and, as you can see below, honestly look pretty lovely when closed (the windows help a lot). We’ve been leaving the doors open while we are in here, and it really stays cool (no direct sun, north facing) and is just so nice to get away from the free rein kids running around our property all summer. It’s also fantastic that cars can pull right up to it, so even in the winter we have very little excuse to not put things away (but we can also just stack everything on the table if we are in a hurry – a dedicated staging spot). We put in a cadet heater that is behind the art, leaning on the floor, so we’ll see if we use it in the winter. I think at minimum I’ll set it to keep it 50 degrees so that it doesn’t get too cold in here and warp the art. That white door leads to the other garage, which is full of samples of something I’m very excited to show you, but can’t yet. So more to come from that garage soon… A huge thanks to my team for helping me with this. I know that it’s technically part of their job, but reorganizing your boss’s life (while also shooting a YouTube series about it) is definitely both hard work and very personal. And thanks to my brother’s company, Afore, for making these garages so beautiful, safe, dry, and polished. They are such a dream. Now go watch the fun/fast YouTube to see the full tour (including what is in the other cabinets).

How Often to Water Your Lemon Tree for Maximum Growth—2 Rules Gardeners Swear By

Having fresh lemons for drinks and cooking is the best part of growing a lemon tree in your garden or a container, and proper watering is essential to ensure the tree sets and grows enough fruit. Learn how often and the right way to water a lemon tree for maximum growth. How Often to Water a Lemon Tree Watering frequency depends on the age of your lemon tree, weather conditions, and whether it is planted in the ground or a container. Garden-Grown Lemon Trees If you are planting a new lemon tree, frequent watering is important for growth and to help the tree adapt to its new environment. When planting the tree, be sure the soil is wet to a depth of at least 3 inches. Then water the tree 2 to 3 times per week for approximately the first month. Monitor rainfall in your area, and if you receive 1/2 inch (or more) during a single rainy day, do not water for a couple of days to prevent overwatering. Once established, allow the top 3 inches of soil to dry before watering. Mature trees need deep watering two times per month in warm weather and less frequent watering in cool weather. Do not provide additional irrigation during rainy periods. Container-Grown Lemon Trees Container-grown lemon trees need more frequent watering. Water regularly, when the top 2–3 inches of soil dry out. Frequency depends on whether you use a plastic or terracotta pot. Always be sure the container has good drainage because soggy roots will reduce fruit production and may cause the lemon tree to die. The Right Way to Water a Lemon Tree Whether the tree is planted in the garden or a container, the right way to deliver water is slowly, at the soil level. For established trees, water under the canopy and slightly beyond the drip line. A drip irrigation hose will add moisture slowly and allow it to seep into the soil before running off. Overhead irrigation is discouraged to prevent leaf disease and spotting. Water deeply until the soil is moist at least 3 inches deep to establish a strong root system. It is better to skip a watering than to apply small amounts of water every day. Common Lemon Tree Maintenance In addition to giving a lemon tree adequate irrigation, there are other components of routine care that you should do to keep the tree healthy. Mulching In the garden, maintain a 3–4 inch layer of organic mulch under the tree to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch 6 to 12 inches away from the trunk. Fertilizing For newly planted trees, use a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer (1 tablespoon per month) in the watering solution during the spring and summer growing season. Increase the amount by the age of the tree each month until the tree is four to five years old. Mature trees need about one pound of a balanced NPK fertilizer per year. Always read the package directions for application. For container-grown lemon trees, use a complete citrus fertilizer with micronutrients and follow the label directions for the application, depending on the size of your tree. Pruning Pruning to open the center of the tree to receive more sunlight will increase fruit production. For young trees, prune only to remove suckers along the trunk and any vertical watersprouts that are too close to other branches. Once the tree is mature, around 5 years, remove any dead, crossing, or too closely spaced wood that forms in the center. Prune off branches that touch the ground. Finally, prune to control size if it is crowding other trees. Prune in late winter or early spring. Overwintering and Frost Protection Most garden lemon trees have some cold tolerance, but will suffer when the temperature drops below 28 degrees for more than a few hours. If freezing temperatures are predicted, pick any ripe fruit and cover the trunks of young trees with burlap or newspaper to insulate them. Cover the foliage of small trees with a sheet or burlap. Be sure to remove the protection when the temperatures rise above freezing. If the tree is damaged by frost, remove damaged fruit, but wait several months before pruning damaged leaves or branches. Container-grown lemon trees in colder growing zones should be brought inside before the first predicted frost of the season. Harvesting Lemons Allow lemons to ripen fully on the tree because the fruit does not continue to ripen once picked. Taste fruit periodically and pick when it suits your taste. It is normal for a tree to drop many of its young fruit. Many varieties have a heavy crop one year, then a light crop the next year.

This Is the Next "It" Flower That's Going to Be Everywhere, According to Florists

If you're anything like me, you love filling your home with flowers whenever you get the chance. While roses and tulips are beautiful classics; it never hurts to take notice of trends to potentially find a new floral favorite. We spoke with John Beach, a florist for BloomNation and the COO of Dolce Blooms in Studio City, California, to get some insight on the next mainstream flower for 2026. "I think the protea is going to have a serious moment in 2026," Beach explains. "There’s a growing appreciation for flowers with character—ones that aren’t necessarily “pretty” in the traditional sense, but are striking, wild, or even prehistoric-looking. The protea checks that box.'" Keep reading to learn more about proteas and why they are likely to show up in bouquets and floral arrangements everywhere next year. Meet the Expert John Beach is a florist for BloomNation and the COO of Dolce Blooms in Studio City, California The Next Mainstream Flower for 2026: Protea Proteas are evergreen shrubs that thrive best in hot, dry climates. The blooms are goblet-shaped, featuring a center of fuzzy or tubular flowers surrounded by stiff, spikey bracts. These unique flowers often appear in bold, bright colors and add a striking addition to any floral arrangement. Beach explains why he believes more people will be drawn toward proteas in the upcoming year: "It’s bold, architectural, and makes a statement—perfect for a culture craving individuality and drama in design," Beach says. "As aesthetics keep shifting toward maximalism and texture-driven florals, the protea’s sculptural quality and otherworldly beauty fit the mood." Beach also notes that this flower will be ideal for those who are focused on sustainability. The plant is drought-tolerant, and cut blooms can last for weeks, making it an excellent choice for decorating your home or for special events. If you're looking to make the blooms last even longer, proteas look just as stunning when dried, allowing you to create a memorable keepsake or provide an alternative decorative choice. Boldness and sustainability aren't the only reasons why proteas are capturing designers' attention. The flower's adaptability is also a major upside. "It appeals to both minimalists (as a singular, impactful element) and maximalists (as the star of a colorful, texture-heavy show). It’s also gender-neutral, which is increasingly important for brands and events embracing inclusivity," Beach says. Colors and Types of Protea Flowers to Watch For The protea is one of the oldest known species of plants, and comes in many varieties and colors. While there are many options to choose from, Beach believes that a few will steal the spotlight. "Blush-toned king protea and the golden-orange tones of the pincushion protea are likely to dominate," Beach explains. "Blush continues to reign in wedding palettes, but the golden-orange hues feel fresh and sun-soaked, aligning with the rise of retro, desert, and terracotta tones we’re seeing in fashion and interiors." While king proteas and pincushion proteas are the most well-known varieties, other popular choices include queen proteas, pink ice proteas, and the aptly named "blushing bride" protea. How to Decorate With Proteas Because proteas are such unique, striking flowers, Beach recommends not going overboard when using them to decorate and approaching a less is more mentality. "Treat the protea like a celebrity guest in your arrangement. It doesn’t need a lot of supporting cast to shine," Beach says. For decorating in your home, Beach recommends something simple, like a single stem in a sculptural vase on a coffee table or entryway. This approach creates a significant impact with minimal effort and can work well in any area where you want to draw attention. When decorating for events, Beach recommends clustering them at the center of low bowls or using them as an anchor for larger arrangements. When decorating for a wedding or event, you can get a little more creative with your arrangements. "They also hold up incredibly well in installations like arches or hanging clouds, especially in outdoor or warm settings," Beach says. It's worth noting that proteas are toxic to humans and animals if consumed, so display your arrangements out of reach from children and pets.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks (And Some Favorite Non-Sale Pieces On My Body)

Itried to sneak into the Nordstroms Anniversary sale before I was allowed to try things on to show you, but it was a mad house and I didn’t have a card (and then ran into The Daily Tay – I HAD NO IDEA SHE LIVED IN THE PNW!!) and got distracted. So I looked for stuff on sale, but honestly, what I was into was the expensive stuff that was now just less expensive, so I didn’t buy anything on sale. Instead, opting for some pretty dang cute, and mostly affordable pieces. Here are a few if you want to see (and then I rounded up some of the sale items I really liked, too). Also, you are about to see a lot of scarves on my head, it’s a thing for me right now… This dress is a solid 9/10. It’s so comfortable, so drapey, so easy to wear – and for virtually every occasion (work, happy hour, grocery shopping, date night, even a walk and chat – just so easy). It has pockets and a loose waist that is still flattering because the sleeves are big. It’s a cute pattern, but not too loud. My only issue with it is that you need a bra that has straps that are pretty wide (or don’t mind showing off your bra strap – but maybe it’s a sign for me to get some new bras, good lord I go a LOOOONNNG time one the same three super supportive but not terribly beautiful bras). They didn’t have my size in stock, so I bought a size 6, but I think if I had sized down, it would have fit in an unflattering way because my boobs would have pulled up the waist, and it might have hugged or poofed in the wrong places. I think if you are smaller on top, then order your size, but for me, sizing up really worked here as it just drapes really nicely. It’s such an incredibly easy dress to wear, and I hope they make it in a lot of other subtle patterns. This is a “new to me” look that I know is trendy (and admittedly cute). A linen set that is pretty affordable (skirt is $55 and top is $75, sold separately). As you know, I’m stupidly self-conscious about my arms/shoulders, so you may have never seen me in a tank top, but this cut (where it comes really close to the armpits) felt more flattering than most, de-emphasizing the areas that I have dumb sensitivities to. Preppy and cute, fun to wear, and comes in black and white, too. I can’t tell if I really will wear this enough to warrant keeping it, but if I had a job where I needed to be in an office or meetings with clients, this is perfect in the summer. The linen is thick, but not wrinkly AT ALL, and the skirt is flattering on its own. I’m wearing a small in both. OBSESSED with these jellies. They are so flattering (elongates my feet and legs) and extremely comfortable (feels like I’m wearing nothing). SIZE UP – I’m a solid size 7 shoe, but wearing an 8 here and can’t imagine going any smaller. Ok, I was on the fence about keeping this (again, unsure I would wear enough to warrant adding it to my already full closet), but after seeing these photos, I’m pretty dang into the outfit. The top is super drapey and I felt flattering for how easy it is to wear, the shorts are tailored but still comfortable. I should have shown you the back because it is more open, which is my only issue. I asked my team what I was supposed to do here, and they said not to wear a bra and try those bra “cakes” instead. So now I want to do a roundup/review of bra “cakes” for larger ladies (and yet, how would we show them on the internet???). Again, the jellies are rad and I think the scarf and aviators are really working with the outfit, if I do say so myself (also trying to not damage my hair as much by styling it so thus the head scarves). This blouse is a solid 10/10 if you don’t mind showing a bit of bra in the middle of the ties. For $65, I think it has a lot of detail (think Doen, but 1/10th the price) and is extremely easy to wear, without being too “pirate-y,” i.e., too much fabric. The longer Bermuda shorts were all I saw in New York (can’t say they are the most flattering – I’m a short-short lady, but I’m embracing the trend and starting to love them, although I love my Gap ones just as much as they are almost 1/3 the price). I think the trend with the bigger Bermuda shorts you are supposed to wear a tiny top (crop, tank, or square neck) and either flip flops, ballet flats, or Hokas, FYI. I don’t know – I want to write a whole post about how fashion is wack right now (New York was extremely uninspiring, TBH. I don’t know what is happening, but I felt like a tourist by just wearing an outfit.) This looks boring, but these are two excellent staples. I was looking for a mid-weight cardigan to layer. Most are either too thin (won’t layer easily over my tops, which are admittedly voluminous) or too thick (too hot). This one is fantastic on its own, but has enough structure, weight, and room to layer on top. SIZE UP if you want to layer (I’m wearing a medium). The shorts are pull-on, drawstring, patterned, and perfect for all your daytime occasions (I think you could even pair them with a t-shirt and blazer for casual Friday office days since they read trouser shorts, not pajamas). I’m wearing a medium, FYI. A cute scarf-style shirt that has a great structure (not flowy, more A-line) with a nice waistline that doesn’t cut in but stays put. I’m wearing a small. Then shout out to Emerson Fry for sending me that cute shirt. I dressed the skirt down with that graphic T, denim around my waist, and classic nude Havianas (which are having a moment, again – flip flops are just everywhere right now). So that’s what I picked up in store and below are the pieces I really want from the actual sale:)