It’s wintertime, meaning you’re contending with snow and ice. Learn safe ways to shovel your way to snow and ice removal. In this blog, you’ll learn about the three terrific tools from Brinly to make snow and ice removal a breeze on your large property.
Understanding the Snow and Ice Challenge
Do you get into a panic every time there’s a winter storm warning issued for your area?
Snow and ice removal can be hazardous for your health. For example, snow and ice removal can sometimes be dangerous and even fatal, from falls to heart attacks.
How can you safely remove snow and ice from your long driveway? From your sidewalks? And if you have a farm or homestead, how do you remove snow to access your other outbuildings?
Accidents happen during snow and ice events, making it essential to start cleaning your driveway, walkways, and other areas during the storm. Don’t wait until the snowstorm passes to begin digging out.
Read more: 9 Secrets for Removing Snow and Ice from Your Driveway
Also, if you have a large property, you may find snow and ice build-up when it’s not promptly removed. How do you deal with that?
If you’re a younger homeowner, this may be your first time needing snow and ice removal help. Will you be paying someone to dig you out?
11 DIY Snow and Ice Removal Tips
It’s vital to take precautions before you head outside with your shovel. Remember the following tips when you are ready to clear snow and ice.
- Warm up before you head outside
While this may sound silly, remember that shoveling snow and breaking up ice uses different muscles. Spend 10 minutes doing warm-up exercises for arms, hamstrings, neck, and shoulder stretches.
- Dress in layers
You will get hot while shoveling snow. Dressing in layers allows you to access a better range of motion. Plus, you can put those layers back on as you cool down.
Forbes.com recommends wearing moisture-wicking long underwear, a wool or fleece sweater, and a wind-blocking outer layer to keep you well insulated from the cold.
- Avoiding slipping on ice with the proper grip
If there was sleet or freezing rain before it snowed or at the tail end of the storm, you must steady yourself on icy patches. You want to avoid falling and breaking an arm, leg, or worse. Wear ice cleats over your boots for added sturdiness.
Prepare for melted snow to ice up overnight. To melt the ice, use kitty litter, wood ashes, sand, or ice melt on smooth surfaces.
- Remember to lift carefully
Forbes.com recommends pushing snow rather than lifting it onto your shovel, which strains different muscles. Don’t forget how to lift safely: bend your knees, keep your head up, and use your legs to lift heavy snow loads or heavy bags of ice melt.
- Take it easy
Snow and ice removal isn’t a race to see who can get done first. Instead, pacing yourself and taking breaks when feeling winded is better.
Also, don’t let the snow pile up until the end of the snowstorm. Making many trips outside to get ahead of the snow is better. If you wait until after the storm, you may have several inches or feet to clear off, which will be hard on your body.
- Put down ice melt
If you know a winter storm is heading your way, put down ice melt or rock salt with a spreader before the storm starts. Ice melt and rock salt prevent snow and ice buildup on your driveway and walkways.
Since treated driveways, porches, and walkways will refreeze overnight, apply more kitty litter, ice melt, rock salt, or sawdust the following morning.
- Use a tarp
Put a tarp over your car to slide the snow off your vehicle with the cover. Forbes.com also recommends using this ingenious hack on your patio, walkway, and other surfaces.
- Don’t forget your leaf blower
Did you know your leaf blower can do double duty as a snow blower? You can blow off snow in tight corners of your porch, patio, walkways, and driveways.
- Keep your shovel handy
When you have to shovel, keep it in a handy spot to avoid walking on any snow. You don’t want to compact snow or slip on ice, making snow and ice removal more complicated than it needs to be.
- Invest in an ergonomic shovel
While shoveling snow is hard work, give yourself a break by buying an ergonomic shovel. These lightweight shovels give your back, shoulders, and arms a break while doing a challenging job. Ensure you get an ergonomic shovel that aligns with your height so you have less bending.
- Metal and plastic make great shovels
Believe it or not, metal and plastic shovels both have snow and ice removal benefits.
Steel shovels work best at moving wet snow and chopping up thick ice.
If you have a lot of areas where you need to remove snow, a plastic shovel helps get the job done quickly and efficiently. Plastic shovels also work well on uneven surfaces and with lighter snow accumulations.
Check Out Brinly’s Newest Snow and Ice Removal Equipment
If you have a lot of property, live on a farm or homestead, or even have a long driveway, you need Brinly’s trifecta of snow and ice removal equipment in your arsenal.
Made with heavy-duty steel construction with three adjustable angles, the Front-Mount Blade for RYOBI Electric ZTRs makes a quick and easy one-time install with a mounting kit that comes with the blade.
The PS10-70 Ice Melt Spreader, with its rust-proof hopper for 70lbs of ice melt, seed, or fertilizer, can be used throughout the year, not just in the winter.
You get an even spread every time you use this spreader. Other features include an adjustable handle, metal gears, hi-vis, and fast assembly.
If you have small areas where it’s impossible for a spreader or shovel to get to, use our 5lb Capacity Handheld Spreader that gets into those tight spaces so you can easily apply ice melt to those spots.
This handheld spreader has an easy-scoop design, so you can quickly and easily fit it for ice removal. Other features include an adjustable flow gate, all-season use, and durable, ultra-dense construction.
Get Your Brinly Snow and Ice Removal Products Today!
What are you waiting for? If snow is in the forecast, it’s time to buy Brinly’s PS10-70 Ice Melt Spreader, Front-Mount Blade for RYOBI Electric ZTRs, and the 5lb Capacity Handheld Spreader that makes easy work for snow and ice removal on your property.
You can buy your next Brinly snow and ice removal products online. If you have any questions about your Brinly snow and ice removal products, contact our customer service today by dialing 877-728-8224 or filling out our contact form.
Source:
Forbes.com, 15 Snow Shovel Tips to Keep Your Driveway and Walkway Clear.
