Winter shoveling hacks

Winter Shoveling Hack: Use a Broom

Not all snowfalls are created equally. Sometimes, like after a light snowfall, it's just not worth breaking out the snow shovels. So long as the snow is light and not very deep, it could be more efficient to use an ordinary broom to simply sweep away the snow.

If such a snowfall occurs that conditions are right to sweep it away, you'll want to tackle the job before anyone walks or drives on the snow. That's because snow littered with footprints or tire tracks is not easily swept away. If you do end up sweeping away the snow in areas that have been tracked down by people or vehicles, most of the tracks will likely remain in place after you've finished sweeping. To finish the job in such cases, you'll need to quickly go over the remaining tracks with your shovel.

Please note that before attempting this winter shoveling hack, it's worth getting a second broom to use exclusively outdoors. This way, your only broom won't be rendered useless indoors while you wait for it to dry. Also, note that wet snow or any snowfalls deeper than a few inches are probably best removed using an actual snow shovel.

Winter Shoveling Hack: Cooking Spray

Have you ever tried to dig yourself out of a winter snowstorm, only to be slowed down by a shovel caked in snow? Not only is caked-on snow annoying for those who shovel, but it's also a health hazard since it leads to prolonged back strain from having to repeatedly carry around the same stuck-on pile of snow.

Would you be happy to know there is a way to stop this common problem from happening? Because there is - and it's such an easy fix. The next time you're getting ready to shovel some snow, grab a bottle of cooking spray from the kitchen and spray a layer of oil on the blade of the shovel. Once done, the snow should readily slide off of the shovel, thus making your job a whole lot easier.

Tip: If you don't have any cooking spray handy, use a paper towel to rub some vegetable oil on the blade instead. While this method of application is less convenient than applying cooking spray straight out of the bottle, it will still work just as well.