7 great snow removal hacks to try this winter

There are pros and cons of any climate. While the South gets beach days, living in the North means ice skating, sledding and snowball fights. While that can be tons of fun, dealing with snow removal definitely is not, especially when it’s a daily chore that can possibly go on for months on end.

Dealing with the snow and ice doesn’t just mean shoveling the driveway and sidewalks a few times a year. It means knowing how to handle the hassle of situations like iced-over windshields, car door locks that are frozen solid and miles of slippery ice.

When it comes to removing snow and ice, there are some quick and easy tips to make your life easier

7 great snow removal hacks to try this winter.

Set a Schedule for Snow Removal

When it comes to snow removal, one of the worst things you can do is to wait until it stops snowing. Instead, set a schedule to lightly shovel every one to two hours, depending on how long the snowfall is supposed to last.

Use Cooking Oil Spray on Your Snow Shovel

To cut down your shoveling time and make things easier on you all around, try coating your shovel with a layer of cooking spray the next time you need to clear the driveway. The cooking oil will prevent the snow from sticking to your shovel. The snow will literally fall right off. It will also make it easier to slide the shovel into the snow piles. Just be sure to wipe off the shovel before storing it away to avoid any greasy messes that you’ll have to clean up later.

Cover It With a Tarp

If you know a snowstorm is about to hit, do yourself a favor and break out the tarps — the more, the merrier in this case. Throw one over your car and another over your sidewalk, porch, or any other walkways that are usually hit hard with snow. When the snow is finished falling, just go outside, drag the tarp off to the side and shake off the snow. Roll up the tarps and save them for next time. A little prep work goes a long way, especially in freezing temperatures.

Use a Straw for your Car Lock

When you are getting ready to head to work, you never expect your car door to be frozen shut, and it can become especially annoying when you’re in a hurry. Luckily, all it takes is a straw for a quick “dethaw” (how poetic was that?) You put the end of the straw right up to the frozen locks and blow into the straw. Repeat that process until your breath eventually unfreezes the lock, and then you can get back in.

Bring out the Leaf-Blower

You may have thought the leaf blower is only good for one season, but it works in the winter, too! Use your leaf blower to blast snow away from your sidewalks, decks, driveways, patios, and even your car windshield. It may not clear all the snow if it’s frozen, but it will make it easier.

Pre-salt the Sidewalk

This is where preparation comes in handy. Slick sidewalks can be dangerous, and one way to prevent it from happening is to pre-salt your sidewalk and driveway before the snow even starts. The rock salt will make the ice melt on contact and will stop any of it from sticking to the ground. Simply spread the salt and leave it alone. You can even put some salt in a sock and gently rub it on your car windshield to prevent icing. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

The rock salt can be rough on your dogs’ paws, and it’s best to keep it off your plants. If you’d prefer a gentler product, look for de-icers containing magnesium chloride or potassium chloride at your local home improvement store.

Install Snow-Melting Mats

Living in an area with constant heavy snowfall can mean a lot of shoveling and a lot of potential slips and falls thanks to the icy layer that can form underneath the snow. If you have areas of your home that are constantly slick and covered with layers of powder, consider installing special snow-melting mats. These mats heat up when turned on and slowly melt the snow. You can find them on places like Amazon, and while it might be an investment, your time and health are worth a lot.

At PB Cleaning 247 we offer fast and efficient snow removal services from friendly professional workers to an exceptional job.

Call PBCleaning247 TODAY on 250.784.684 and book us for a Snow Removal Service !