Even though it has been warm this fall, there will eventually be snow! Here are five ways to beat the snow and minimize the effects of those wintery blasts that must be coming!
Cover Your Shovel in Cooking Spray
As anyone living in snow can attest, there are many different types of snowfall. Some is light and fluffy, which creates snowdrifts that limit visibility, and others are dense and great for packing. It is the heavy, wet kind that tends to prove the most difficult to shovel, so allow this DIY hack to lighten your load.
To keep snow and ice from adhering to your shovel, simply spray a light coating of cooking oil on its front and back. To avoid a mess later, remember to have some towels handy to wipe the tool down with once the snow is cleared. When I tell you this trick makes shoveling easier, I am telling the truth. It works so well that I keep a can in my winter readiness bag in the trunk of my car.
Wear Socks Over Shoes
Here is a cool way to beat the snow and add traction when shoveling. According to a study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, to prevent unneeded falls when treading on icy ground, a second layer of socks should be put on over shoes.This unconventional method for added traction has apparently been greatly embraced by the locals there, so much so that the council of the city of Dunedin has made motions advising it to residents.
Make a Salt Alternative
The spreading of salt in the wintertime is so common that we forget what kind of damage the habit can inflict on local roads and sidewalks. The salt slowly eats away at any hardened concrete it comes into contact with, and although there are sealants and special techniques that can slow erosion, this DIY hack is an easy alternative to protect against damage. Make a salt alternative with the following ingredients:
1 tsp of generic dish liquid
1 TB of rubbing alcohol
1/2 gallon warm water
Combine the above ingredients together in bucket and pour the mixture over sidewalks and pathways to quickly melt ice without damaging walkways.
Set a Shoveling Schedule to Beat the Snow!
Set yourself a shoveling schedule to beat the snow. When a lot of snow is predicted the worst thing one can do is burrow in for the night, leaving the huge snowdrifts to be shoveled in their entirety the following morning. On the other hand, if you follow a schedule to shovel every one to two hours depending on the amount anticipated, you will avoid a huge pile-up to remove all at once later.
Use the No-shovel Solution to Beat the Snow
Did you ever protect your car windshield from excessive ice and snow by placing a piece of cardboard on top of it to find a clean, scrape-free windshield when uncovered the next morning? Here is a similar suggestion. When a winter storm is anticipated, place a plastic tarp over exposed sidewalks and walkways, with each corner held down by bricks or pieces of firewood. As odd as it sounds, once the snow flurries end, all one must do is pull on the corners of the tarp, uncovering a unsoiled, unfrozen path. I know it sounds simplistic, but this hack is another way to beat the snow!
