If you have stepped out of your room in the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed the excessive amount of snow that is covering, or rather smothering, our campus.

Slippery sidewalks, icecovered windshields and slushslathered roads are all a part of our day now, and it is getting exhausting having to deal with it.

Students are getting frustrated, particularly as their vehicles are plowed in and are then unable to move for days at a time.

With all of the snow, it can be overwhelming at times to figure out a solution. We cannot pause our entire lives because of some snow that won’t melt, so it is important to know some easy fixes for the snow that seems to never stop falling. This is difficult to deal with as a college student, so all these options are doable for on-campus residents.

The first option to prevent hard frost from forming on your windshield overnight is to take some table salt, a moderate amount, and gently rub it all over your windshield. This is a simple solution that will make defrosting your car when you need it much more painless.

If you forget to use the first option the night before and your windshield is covered with pesky ice, then try using some rubbing alcohol. If you simply put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray your windshield down, you can wipe off the ice and then dry it to ensure that frosting does not happen.

This will also leave your windshield clean and streak-free, so you might as well try out this hack.

If you are sick of wiping down your car and want a practical solution even if it costs some money, then consider buying a car cover.

Just cover your car each time you park it, and then when you need to use your car, simply remove the cover and shake off the snow. Your car will be clean and ready for use underneath.

One of the most dreaded parts of winter is your car getting stuck in the snow. The tires are spinning, but the car is not moving. It is a feeling that many of us have experienced. A way to solve this issue is surprising but effective: kitty litter.

Putting kitty litter underneath and around the tires that are stuck allows them to grip onto something gritty, thus giving the tires traction.

Although kitty litter is not something you might have casually lying around, consider picking up a cheap bin of it at the store next time you’re out in preparation for the potential of getting stuck.

It is important to mention that most of these options can be used for sidewalk spots outside of your apartment as well as the windshield and tires on your car. If you know that there is a slick spot that you keep slipping on, consider helping out your neighbors and trying to melt the ice with salt or rubbing alcohol.

Although snow and ice can be a burden for many of us, especially those with cars, we have to remember the fact that we are in Erie, Pennsylvania, and this is something that is pretty expected around here. Snow and ice can be manageable if you are ready for it, so hopefully these tips can help you in the event that you’re stuck or want to prevent some buildup on your vehicle or sidewalks!