Winter snow removal is not a welcome part of my winter scene.  I have to admit… “Let It Snow” is not a part of my vocabulary.  And, skiing or snowboarding is not my idea of winter fun.  Curled up by a roaring fire eating popcorn with a cold Diet Coke is more my cup of tea.

At this time of year… I envy those of you who enjoy warm winter days in a mild climate.  However, here I am… living at the base of the Wasatch Mountains… what else could I expect.

Living alone…winter snow removal has become my inevitable responsibility… like it or not.  After a few years of shoveling snow… I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade…

Here are 7 tips to remember when you have to shovel show.

1.  Wax the blade of your snow shovel.  It will help the snow come off your shovel blade faster and cleaner.

2.  If you shovel a path down the center of your driveway you will create a path from which you can push the snow to the edges of your full-width driveway.  If your driveway is wide and long… like mine is… this method will save your bacon… or should I say your “back.”

3.  Shovel the snow as soon as possible after a snowfall and the snow can be moved easily.  Driving or walking over areas that need to be shoveled compresses the snow and it will quickly turn to ice.  Block off the end of your driveway to discourage traffic until you get the area cleared.

I become a bear… when folks drive over fresh snow in my driveway.  I’ve been know to park my car out in the front of my house and let it get covered with snow, rather than park it in the garage, where I might be tempted to drive down my driveway before I’ve cleared the white stuff.

4.  Concentrate on exposing as much of the pavement as you can.  “Get to the black.”  Areas that are exposed attract the warmth and sun.  You’ll notice the areas surrounding expose pavement will melt faster.

5.  Slush and standing water need to be removed. Snow that has melted, or soften will turn to ice after the temperature drops in the evening.  After snow removal, Halite or ice met can be used in areas that don’t dry out but freeze instead… because they are not exposed to sunlight.

6.  When possible, use a snow pusher rather than a shovel.  It saves bending and straining your back.

7. Invest in a snow blower.  You might consider pooling resources with neighbors and purchasing one together.  You’ll save your back as well as hours of time if your have a great brother-in-law, by the name of Dew Atwood, who gives his sister-in-law, a snow blower for Christmas.

Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana

P.S.  I no longer dread looking out the window, to discover little white flakes of snow hit the ground.  I bundle up.. plug in my new snow blower, push the electric start button and away I go.  Instead of it taking four hours to clear my driveway, garage pad, and walks… it only take me an hour.

Thanks Dew!