Be prepared with some quick tips to make snow & ice easier to manage.
Cooking Spray on the edge of the shovel blade helps to prevent snow from sticking and allows you to move more quickly through the job. Remember to wipe down the shovel after shoveling and don’t store the cooking spray in the cold garage. Wiping the blade with wax paper will work, too.
Don’t wait for the snow to stop before shoveling. It will be easier work, especially during a big storm, to shovel every couple of hours rather than waiting to “dig yourself out!”
A little sand will provide a rough surface for you to work on as you’re shoveling so you don’t slip and fall. We used to recommend kitty litter, but the clumping litter would make a gummy mess as it got wet, and you moved about.
Make some Ice Melt at home. Combine a teaspoon of dish soap, 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol, and ½ gallon of water. Pour the mixture on the problem areas to melt through the ice.
An ergonomic, or bent handle snow shovel, can reduce force on your back by 16%. A needed break in Colorado during the winter.
A snow blower will tackle the bigger storms and allows you to throw the snow to the edges as you clear the driveway.
Add an additional hand grip to your favorite shovel to make it easier to lift heavy snow. There are many on the market that fasten to an existing shovel where you can easily reach it.
Use your leaf blower for light dustings of the dry snow we often get. Quicker and faster than dragging the big snow blower out of the garage.
Invest in a push snowplow type shovel for light snow. The snow can be pushed to the side without needing to lift it up and toss it over the snowbank.