A Brief History
Wintertime can be a fun time full of holiday spirit and beautiful snowscapes; however, no matter how beautiful the snow can be, it can create a dangerous hazard. This danger holds especially true when it lands on your driveway. It can up the potential of slipping and sliding both on your feet and in your vehicle.
Here are some quick and easy ways to get rid of that unwanted snow on your driveway this winter season.
Digging Deeper
Do not underestimate the power of cooking spray
One really cool tip that every homeowner should have up their sleeve when it comes to the winter season is cooking spray. No, we do not suggest applying it all over your driveway as that could lead to not only an expensive bill but a slippery disaster. Instead, consider applying the cooking spray to your snow shovel. This will assist it in gliding through the snow easily and prevent buildup that makes shoveling difficult. Just keep in mind that the cooking spray can leave behind a slick surface when left for long periods of time. So, be mindful when storing your shovel in your garage by first laying down a sheet or some other protection to keep your floors free of the cooking spray residue.
Schedule your snow removal
If you live in an area of the country where you typically get more than just a few inches of snow, it is time to set a snow schedule. You should plan to shovel the driveway every hour or two, depending on how the snowfall is. You will find that it is much easier to shovel your driveway on a schedule as compared to letting it go until it’s done snowing outside. In many cases, homeowners make the mistake of waiting until the storm is over. This typically amounts of lots of snow that is heavier to shovel. In addition, if the snowfall stops in the midnight hours, most will not shovel until the next day. This leads to icy snow that is hard to break up into chunks to shovel smoothly.
Get the right tools for the job
This comes back to the idea that you can surely cut your lawn with nail clippers, but it’s going to take a long time to do so. Everyone’s driveway is different and the amount of snow you receive each year is going to be different depending on where you currently live. Assessing your needs is the best way to ensure that you have the right equipment to get the job done quickly so you can get on with your day. If you live in an area where you get snow by the foot, then consider the help of a snowblower. If you live in an area where the most you get a snowstorm is a couple of inches, consider purchasing an ergonomic shovel to make your job much easier on your body.
Tarp designated areas
If you have sidewalks or a porch that you need to keep snow off of, then consider using a tarp or two. Simply lay down the tarp before the snow flies. You may need to utilize some rocks or other heavy weights to hold the tarp in place until the weight of the snow holds it down. Once the storm is over, just grab the tarp and lift it up. It’s very helpful to have ropes on one end of the tarp so that you can easily lift it towards the opposite side. This is ideal for areas where you don’t get tons of snow as you’ll need to be physically capable of lifting the tarp once the snow has weighed it down. This method is super simple and can save you a lot of time removing snow from your walkways and porches.
Be strategic with your snowblowing
If there’s one thing that will save you a lot of time when removing snow from your driveway it’s doing your snow blowing strategically. Start by making one strip down the middle of your driveway. As a general rule of thumb, you should always be blowing the snow towards the outer edge of your driveway. Once you get your first pass, turn the snowblower around and go up the side that your chute is currently pointed at. Then, when you get to the other side, turn around and go back down the other side. This will ensure that you don’t have to waste time changing the angle of the chute when snow blowing. It is important to note that not all snow blowers are the same. You can read these reviews on various snow blowers to learn about the different features that each snow blower has to offer you. You’ll find some are gas powered while others are electric. Some come in bigger sizes than others, which makes clearing a larger driveway much easier. The more you learn about the various features that are available, the better off you will be in selecting the right snow blower for your driveway.
Removing snow from your driveway does not have to be a difficult task. You simply need to go into it with a plan of attack. When you have a plan of how you are going to handle it, you can get the job done quickly and with minimal effort on your part. The above are just some easy tips that you should employ when removing snow at your home so you can get it done quickly.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Whittell, Giles. Snow: A Scientific and Cultural Exploration. Atria Books, 2019.
The featured image in this article, a photograph by Wonderlane, is licensed under the Unsplash License.
