If the weather gods are providing you with a blizzard, you need to prepare yourself to remove the snow from your driveway, sidewalk, walkway, car, etc. so that you’re not held up in your home. In order to remove snow effectively, you want to use these tips.
Invest in a snow blower.
Shovels are the traditional method used to remove snow, but if you want to save yourself some time (and save yourself from an aching back), you’ll want to invest in a snow blower. These comes in a variety of sizes, and if you don’t have much of a driveway or walkway to clear, then a small snow blower will be good enough for you.
Snow blowers are very easy to use, and you will be able to clear a larger area of snow in a quicker amount of time. Just make sure that you also stock up on gas and oil if you have a snow blower, otherwise they won’t do you any good.
Stock up on salt.
Salt will help you melt the ice, and it’s a necessity to get rid of snow. Make sure that you buy a few bags before the first snowfall so that you’re prepared. Most home improvement, hardware and even grocery stores carry salt.
There are different brands you can purchase, and in most cases, the generic and cheapest salt will do just fine. But if you have pets, you’ll want to invest in a pet-safe salt, as the chemicals used in some salts are very harmful to animals.
When you have the salt, make sure to spread it out on any icy areas and watch it melt the snow away. This is done by using a shovel and bucket to help spread the ice over your entire driveway or walkway. You may have to use a larger amount of salt on very icy areas, and you should continue to add salt to your driveways and walkways to keep it from freezing.
Clear your sidewalk.
Many people only spend time clearing off their driveways and walkways to their doors, and they leave their sidewalks covered in snow. This is very rude and very unsafe. Many people use your sidewalk to get around, and if it’s covered in snow, you’re forcing them to walk through the snow. Also, if you don’t clear snow off of your sidewalk or don’t try to clear the ice and someone were to fall and hurt themselves, they could end up suing you.
Get an ice scraper.
If you keep your car parked outside, you’ll need to clear your car off in order to use it. It’s a very good idea to get an ice scraper so that you can brush and scrape the snow and ice off your windows. You should also turn your car on and turn the defrosters on to help melt the snow from the inside out.
Get snow melters.
Along with clearing snow with salt, shovels and snow blowers, you could also invest in heated rubber mats. You can place these mats on your driveway or walkways and turn them on when it starts to snow. These mats produce heat so that it will melt the snow on contact, leaving your driveway and walkway free from ice and snow.
Joshua Reynolds is a freelance writer who lives in Chicago. He understands how difficult driving in ice and snow can be and works with the Windy City snow removal service each winter.
Recent Comments