From the Tips Box: Frozen Locks, Beard Trimming, and Loose Items [From The Tips Box] (via Lifehacker)

I got this on my reader this morning. Of the tips, I think the hand sanitizer bit and squegee idea are definitely the best!!! Thanks to New England winters for that perspective...

From the Tips Box: Frozen Locks, Beard Trimming, and Loose Items [From The Tips Box]:

Readers offer their best tips for de-icing frozen car locks, trimming your beard without a guarded trimmer, and remembering to bring loose items out the door.

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About the Tips Box: Every day we receive boatloads of great reader tips in our inbox, but for various reasons—maybe they're a bit too niche, maybe we couldn't find a good way to present it, or maybe we just couldn't fit it in—the tip didn't make the front page. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favorites for your buffet-style consumption. Got a tip of your own to share? Add it in the comments, share it here, or email it to tips at lifehacker.com.

Use Hand Sanitizer to De-Ice Car Locks

Photo by akemp42.

Kevin Kelsey shows us another handy pocket item that acts as a multitasker:

Went to a movie on Christmas, and when we came out, the car locks were frozen. No stores open for miles. I said to my wife that if we just had some alcohol, we could use that to unfreeze it. She gave me a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and I dipped the key in it. The lock opened right up. Neat, huh?

Use a Regular Comb as a Beard Trimming Guard

handbra gives beard-rockers a tip to keep it neat without a guarded trimmer:

If you have facial hair (I have a goatee) and forgot your guarded trimmer, you can use a comb as a guard and use the trimmer on the back of most electric razors. Just 'comb' your beard and run the trimmer over the comb. It takes a little getting used to, and it isn't the cleanest trim, but you can touch it up when you get through, and is much better than letting it grow out for the duration of your trip.

Keep a Squeegee In Your Car for Easy Snow Removal

Photo by VirtualErn.

spacecoyote lets us know about another useful windshield-clearing tool:

When the snow starts a-falling, throw a squeegee in your vehicle along with an ice scraper. It's much more efficient at clearing snow from the car and doesn't have bristles that clog up with snow and ice that will later melt inside your vehicle. If you have one with a sponge side, you can use that on painted areas if there's a worry about scratching the paint with the rubber squeegee. I've been using a $3 cheap-o from Wal-Mart and it hasn't let me down yet.

Leave Loose Items With Shoes For Quick Remembering

Enginerd keeps us from leaving important items behind with this tip:

Going to somebody else's house? Place the things you need to remember in (or on, if this grosses you out) your shoe, such as keys, wallet, or phone. Since you can't leave without your footwear, you're certain to remember these other items.

For those of us that are really forgetful, this tip works at your own house, too.