Winter storms are almost upon us, and it’s time to drag out the snow removal equipment. Snow blowers are great, but if you have a battery-powered tool, you won’t be able to recharge them if the power goes out. Similarly, making sure you have enough fuel for gas-powered models can be challenging when roads are closed due to snow and ice. But you don’t need to settle for a plain old shovel to dig out from under a winter storm. Here are some innovative tools that don’t need a power source—except you.
Getting snow off the roof
If you need to get snow off of your roof, rather than just using a typical snow broom, try a tool that will allow snow to glide right off of the roof by pushing it onto a slippery sheet of plastic. The aptly named avalanche tool will reach up to 15 feet onto your roof to remove snow. A similar roof snow removal tool that will reach up to 20 feet and has an aluminum pole and blade rather than a fiberglass one, known as the snow peeler, is a good alternative for heavier duty snow removal.
Push shovels
Shoveling driveways and sidewalks can be pretty back-breaking, and this push shovel with wheels can help. It works like a hand-operated plow, and can help you avoid lifting heavy shovelfuls of snow. Depending on how much snow you get, it might not be deep enough to get to all the snow, but it can still give you a good start.
Sled shovels
For moving larger amounts of snow in one go, try a sled shovel. Made to slide along the ground and pick up several feet of snow at a time, these shovels can assist you with moving larger amounts of snow at a time without having to pick them up off the ground. This can save your back, and speed up the process, to boot.
Added handles
Regular shovels can strain your back, but adding an extra handle for leverage can make shoveling easier and less painful. The extra grip will slide onto the handle of most long-handled tools in order to give you an advantage, and can be moved to find the most ergonomic position.
Extendable snow brushes
For snow removal on vehicles, a brush that extends and has a rotating head to help you reach all the way across the roof of a car is the best option. Keeping snow clear on cars is important to prevent it from blowing off onto other vehicles in traffic and freezing, causing hazards on the road.
Ice melt shakers
To prevent snow from sticking to driveways and walkways if you’re only expecting a dusting, or to prevent ice from forming on the surface of the pavement, using a seed shaker to apply ice melt to a larger area quickly is a big time saver. Using an ice melt product can reduce the amount of shoveling you need to do as well as preventing the more difficult task of removing ice.
Vehicle covers
To keep cars or outdoor equipment from getting buried, using a tarp or a drop cloth over top of them can help you clear vehicles off in a snap. Pulling back the tarp when you need to use your vehicle will make cleaning it off instantaneous. Since it can fold up, a tarp can also go with you in your trunk to cover your vehicle while you’re out and about as well as at home.
