Snow and Ice Removal Hacks: Moving up to Chicago from Florida, ice and snow have been a real thing to get used to. Don’t get me wrong – I love the wintry Christmastimes, sledding, playing with my cat in the snow, and all that. However, functioning on a day-to-day basis has been tricky – especially dealing with my car in the wintry months since I don’t often have ice melt on hand.
And I’m not so fond of the rock salt that can hurt the paws of my furry friends and neighbors. So, I’ve needed some help in getting my car unstuck, keeping the sidewalk clear, and many, many other things. The hacks below are some of the best ones I’ve found for dealing with these issues.
Clear Snow using a Leaf Blower
Just because autumn has passed doesn't mean you should put your leaf blower away. This is an excellent hack for getting rid of light, fluffy snow if you don't have access to a snow blower. You may still need to shovel some because it won't remove all, especially if a layer of ice has formed beneath the snow, but it will get you started.
Spray your snow shovel with cooking oil
Try coating your shovel with a layer of cooking spray the next time you need to clear the driveway to cut down on shoveling time and make things simpler all around. Snow will not stick to your shovel if you use frying oil. Snow will practically fall off the roof. It will also help to slide the shovel into the snow mounds more simpler. Simply wipe the shovel clean before storing it to avoid any oily messes that you'll have to clean up later.
Sand the walkways
With this hack, you may bring the beach to the snowstorm. Cover your driveway and porch with a layer of sand to keep the snow from turning to ice and to provide slick walks with some much-needed grip. You won't have to worry about anything because this all-natural remedy is safe for both children and dogs. If you can't get your hands on a bag of sand, kitty litter will suffice.
Make a Timetable
If you know a big snowstorm is coming, set an alarm on your phone to remind you to go outdoors and shovel your walkway every hour or two. It will be much easier to do it gradually rather than waiting until the snow has stopped falling because it will not have had a chance to accumulate. It may seem inconvenient to constantly return outside, but each trip will only take minutes rather than hours if you wait to shovel all of the snow at once.
Living Location
Living in a location where heavy snowfall occurs regularly can result in a lot of shoveling as well as a lot of possible slips and falls due to the ice layer that can collect beneath the snow. Consider placing special snow-melting mats in sections of your home that are continuously slick and covered with layers of powder. When these mats are turned on, they heat up and begin to melt the snow. You can find them on Amazon, and while they are an investment, your time and health are far more valuable.
Make it enjoyable
Do you have a big shoveling job ahead of you? Make a pleasant day of it by enlisting the help of all the neighborhood youngsters. Make it a party by playing some music. Turn all the new snow mounds into a giant snowball battle (away from the freshly shoveled sidewalk, of course) or a snowman-building contest once the shoveling is done. The shoveling will be completed, and everyone will have a memorable experience. After all, what good is snow if you don't get out and play in it? hopefully know you will know the Snow and Ice Removal Hacks.
