For the past several weeks, snow has piled up and around Westport, more specifically, Westport’s cars. With five snow days, an early dismissal and weekends covered by white stuff, it takes a master of snow to avoid the biggest bummer the winter can bring: a snowed in car.

At the beginning of this Winter, I was a baby to getting snow off my car. I can now say I know what to do when my car is engulfed in snow. Here are steps to take in getting your car out of the snow.

Step 1: Have a sibling.

This is the most essential of all the steps. Having a sibling makes everything so much easier, especially getting your car out of snow. It doesn’t matter how long it takes them, your brother or sister might be out there for hours if they’re an inexperienced snow shoveler, but who else is going to give them rides all over the place? If you do not have a sibling, ask your parents for a sibling; I mean, you’ve always wanted a younger brother, right? If that doesn’t work, move onto step two.

Step 2: Find a freshman.

This works almost identically to step one. Just replace your brother or sister with a freshman. This could potentially work out better for you, especially if your siblings are not in high school or are big enough to reach the top of your car. You may, however, feel guilty if you don’t give rides home to the kid after he cleans off your car.

Step 3: Beg your parents to do it for you.

This most likely will not work, just as a disclaimer. But if you don’t have a sibling, and you aren’t friends with any freshmen, then begging your parents might at least be worth a shot. While your parents will think lesser of you, and you’ll be called a lazy child for weeks, it’ll probably be worth the extra two hours of sleep you gained.

Step 3.5: If your parents don’t make you do it, just go back to sleep.

If you’re like me, you’d rather sleep in till 12 pm on a snow day or weekend. And if you’re lucky, by 1 pm, the snow might be melted off your car. Or you could just trudge through the snow and count on your windshield wipers doing you a favor.

Don’t count on that.

Step 4: Your parents may make you do it.

After begging, your parents will probably make you put your coat on and dig your car out. In this case, grab a shovel and one of those big brooms because you’ll want to be out and back in bed as quickly as possible. First, dig around your car on all sides. Once you’ve cleared out enough of a path to walk on, twist the key and let the engine start up. Turn on your heat all the way and your heat-coil defrosters, if you have them, because it’ll help melt the snow off the windshield. After doing that, drop the shovel and grab the broom. Brush all the snow off your car’s windshield, body, windows and hood. By the time you’ve gotten all the snow off your car, it’ll be nice and warm in the driver’s seat, so hop in and drive.