The next time snow flies in Illinois, think twice before making any of these three common winter driving mistakes.

A Bummer Illinois Winter

For the last few weeks I have heard my kids say this at least once a day; "this winter is terrible" or "this is the real bummer winter", and I'd be lying if I said I don't slightly agree with them.

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Truthfully, winter and I have a complicated relationship. I love when it snows, but the second it makes driving difficult, I hate it. I like when it's cold so you can snuggle under a blanket on the couch, but I hate when it's so cold you feel like your face is freezing off when you step outside.

Winter in Illinois has been pretty tame so far this year, BUT I can't help but feel like the other shoe will drop soon, and when it does, please keep these three things in mind.

Common Winter Mistakes Made By Illinois Drivers

I think most people would agree that one of the most frustrating things about the winter season, (besides shoveling and having your face freeze off), is clearing snow and ice off your car. I hate this chore with a passion, and I 100 percent know that I am guilty of making two of these common winter driving mistakes on the regular:

1. Pulling wiper off the windshield in a snow or ice storm. 

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Yes, having your wipers freeze to the windshield sucks, but having the wind break them off or damage the gearing sucks worse.

2. Neglecting to brush snow off the windshield and letting the wipers do the work instead.

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Wipers are designed to clear water which doesn't weigh much, not pounds of snow. Forcing them to clear snow will damage the gearing and cost you way more in repair bills.

3. Pouring boiling water on an frozen windshield

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If you need to melt ice on your windshield quick, pouring boiling water on it is the absolute worst thing you can do...unless you like replacing shattered windshield glass too.

I guess the moral of this story is; don't be lazy and leave time to clear snow and ice from your car properly this winter, or you will be sorry... and much more broke.

10 of the Best Road Trips to Take When You Need to Escape Illinois This Winter

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi

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