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Snow is lovely to look at, but it’s a pain to shovel. Worse, shoveling can cause injury if you’re not careful.
Here’s how to safely keep your walk and driveway clear in the winter, from Better Homes & Gardens:
Do some prep work. Before snowy weather hits, be sure to remove any obstacles from the path you’ll be clearing — sticks, stones, doormats, toys, cords, or anything else that might be hidden under the snow and cause you to trip while you’re working outside.
Perform seasonal maintenance. If you use a snow blower, don’t just leave it in the garage all year until you need it in the winter. Drain the gas before you store it away in the spring, or replace it with a stabilized fuel.
Otherwise, the gas can separate and create problems for the engine when you operate it. If you forget to drain the tank, empty it and replace the fuel before using it again.
Don’t wait for the snow to stop. It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s not necessarily a bad idea. The more snow that piles up, the heavier your job.
Shoveling or using the snow blower before the snow stops falling means you’re not exerting yourself as much. You’ll save strain in your back and arms.
Also, more frequent shoveling prevents snow and ice from freezing on the sidewalk, which is harder to remove and makes the surface more slippery.
Remember pets and other animals. Make sure your dog or cat is inside before you start up your snow blower.
If you use something to melt the ice, look for a product that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals that can harm pets walking over it. Wipe off your pets’ paws when they come inside, and keep the packaging safely out of their reach.