A light dusting of snow. Gorgeous icicles. A white Christmas. Winter weather can be undeniably beautiful and fun for the whole family, but it’s not without its challenges.
Namely, the slippery conditions it creates, which can be dangerous, and the build-ups of snow it heaps on your home and driveway, which can leave you stuck.
Avoid the headache of snow removal by sticking with trusted and time-tested tools that will keep your driveway clear this winter so your family can enjoy the wonderful winter weather worry-free.
Shovels
If you experience light and infrequent snowfalls, the only snow removal tool you’ll need is a shovel. Of course, although this tool is as basic as it gets when it comes to snow removal, there are some shovels that are way better than others.
Some of the best snow shovels include the Snow Joe SJ-SHLV01, which is great for heavy snowfalls, the Suncast SC3250 Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo, which balances strength and is ergonomically designed, and the HBC 17-Inch Poly Snow Shovel & Pusher which is a simple but efficient shovel.
Start shoveling as soon as you can so that snow doesn’t have a chance to stick to the ground, making your job way harder. The good thing about shoveling is that anyone can operate a shovel, from children to adults, although you should be mindful of your back to avoid any injuries. Always stretch before you start shoveling and use your legs, not back, to lift snow.
If you have suffered back injuries in the past or have frequent moderate to large snowfalls, you may want to consider upgrading your shovel to a power broom or even a snowblower.
Power Brooms
While shovels are fairly common and need very little explanation, power brooms are a much rarer snow removal tool. They come in numerous varieties, including handheld, gas-powered, and electric-powered.
Not only do they function as snow removers, but they also can be used year-round to clear your walkway and driveway from other debris like sand, dirt, snow, and leaves, along with clearing your lawn of dry, dead grass.
Power brooms have durable bristles placed on a rotating cylinder, which helps them clear out heard to reach areas that snow blowers would have trouble getting to. In specific, they are effective at clearing cracks and crevices of snow.
It’s important to get snow out of the cracks in your sidewalk and driveway because it can melt and refreeze there, causing issues. Because of this function, you can use power brooms as a follow up to snow blowers or to clear light snowfalls after they occur.
One of the best power brooms you’ll find online is the Snow Joe 323E 13-Inch Electric Snow Shovel, which can effectively clear snowfalls up to 6 inches in height.
Snow Blowers
If you have a bad back, receive frequent, moderate to large snowfalls, or hate shoveling, because who doesn’t, then you’ll love snow blowers. Snowblowers are electric or gas-powered machines that pick up snow, munch it up, and then spit it out through a chute, so it’s deposited in a more desirable place.
These large, powerful tools can be loud, so be mindful of sleeping neighbors when you decide to wake up at dawn to take care of the pesky snow that fell in your driveway overnight. Snow blowers can be single-stage, two-stage, and three-stage models, with single-stage snow blowers being for lighter snowfalls, two-stage snow blowers working well for moderate snowfalls, and three-stage snow blowers handling severe storms.
Snowblowers are better for your body than shoveling and clear out snow in less than half the time it takes to shovel. Depending on the model, your snowblower may even be capable of handling ice.
One of the best snow blowers available is the Husqvarna ST224 24-Inch 208cc Two-Stage Electric Start Snow Blower, which is a powerful self-propelled model that works well on all kinds of terrains.
You can put this bad boy or any other snowblower into action right after it snows or even while flakes are still coming down. In fact, many snow blowers have headlights to help you work in dark and stormy conditions.
Rock Salt
As easy as all these tools make snow removal, wouldn’t it be nice if there was just a magic powder you could spread on the ground before a snowstorm so there’s no build-up of snow to deal with, and you can spend more time inside drinking hot chocolate with your family? That magic powder DOES exist—in the form of rock salt!
Rock salt is the cheapest deicing solution. It works by mixing with snow, lowering its freezing point, which then liquefies it and keeps it from solidifying on your sidewalk and driveway. You can use rock salt before a snowstorm, to keep ice from freezing, or after to melt it.
However, it should be noted that if you live in a place with temperatures below 15 F, rock salt will be ineffective because it doesn’t lower the freezing point of water farther than that. Another downside of rock salt is that it can be harmful to vegetation and pets. If you have pets or want to protect your yard and garden, consider an alternative ice melt.
One of the best rock salts is the Green Gobbler Pure Calcium Chloride Snow & Ice Melt Pellets, which you can order in bulk online, so you’re ready for the next snowstorm.
DIY Ice Melt Solutions
If you want an alternative ice melt that’s inexpensive to make, consider this 3-Ingredient DIY Ice Melt Solution. Not only is it super effective, but it’s also super easy to make.
Fill a gallon bucket halfway with hot water. Add six drops of dish soap to the water, mixing it in with a ladle. Then add 2 ounces of rubbing alcohol to the bucket and again mix it in.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on your car, sidewalk, and driveway.
You can make other great DIY Snow Removal Solutions with ingredients as common as beet juice, baking soda, white vinegar, and soda, all of which have properties that lower the freezing temperature of the water.
Conclusion
By using these tools, you can keep your driveway clear of snow and ice and your family safe all winter long. Don’t worry about winter weather; take care of it simply and efficiently with these tools. I hope you enjoyed this article. If you found it helpful, be sure to share it!
Author Bio:
Helen Lewis is a writer who graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. in English. Her areas of expertise include health topics, gardening, and DIY. When not tip-tapping away on her trusty laptop, you’ll likely find her caring for her house plants, reading by her garden, or hammocking in nature.
