4 Brilliant Hacks to Make Snow Shoveling Less Miserable

Updated on Feb. 14, 2024

Don’t break your back. Try a de-icing cocktail instead.

Image: Elizabethsalleebauer/Getty

If you’re a homeowner in a snowy climate, chances are good you rue the winter: All that snow has to go somewhere, and it’s not getting there itself. Cue snow shoveling.

Barring a move to a snow-free state or barricading your family inside all winter, there’s no way to avoid the endless task of shoveling snow. There are, however, ways to make the process much easier. Here are four simple hacks to make the morning after a snowfall much less stressful.

#1 Spray Your Shovel With Cooking Oil

Snow sticking to your shovel makes an already arduous task even more obnoxious. Avoid it with this hack: Lightly coat your shovel with nonstick cooking oil to make the snow slide right off. No more time wasted removing snow from your snow remover. You can substitute a spray lubricant like WD-40, but the downside is it’s toxic.

#2 Lay Out a Tarp Before the Snow

If you like shortcuts, this technique, billed as “the laziest way imaginable” to clear snow, according to a tutorial from “Instructables,” has your name on it. The day before an expected snowfall, lay a tarp on your walkway. When the snow finishes falling, just pull out the tarp, and voilà: an instantly cleared walkway. Word to the wise: Make sure pedestrians won’t trip on your tarp. Include a sign or use this technique in your backyard walkway if you’re concerned.

The technique requires a tarp, firewood, and twine, as well as some prep work. Before the storm, use firewood to weigh down your tarp — you don’t want it flying away in the wind — and tie the twine to both the tarp and to a shovel standing upright in your yard. You’ll use the shovel to pull out the snow-laden tarp.

Although this method might be faster than shoveling, it does require manpower. After all, a cubic foot of snow can weigh seven to 20 pounds. So, don’t get too ambitious with the size of your tarp or you might not be able to pull it once it’s full of snow.

#3 Stir Up a Homemade Deicing Cocktail

Deicers make snow removal easier by cutting through the tough, icy layers that are a pain to remove with a shovel. But an easy solution should be easy on your property as well. Many commercial deicers are pretty harsh.

Commercial ice-melting substances — magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride (salt) — all damage the environment, according to the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center. They can also damage concrete sidewalks and driveways, which means hefty repair costs later.

A better solution: Make your own deicer using rubbing alcohol or vinegar. You’ll save money, too. Commercial melters typically cost at least $11. Plus, you’ll avoid the hassle of trekking to the hardware store to stock up.

Use vinegar before a storm to make ice and snow removal easier:

• Combine three parts vinegar to one part water.

• Spray or pour gently (you still want to avoid runoff into your landscape) before a storm.

To keep the sidewalks and steps from icing after a storm:

• Combine two parts rubbing alcohol with one part water.

• Apply to minimize runoff.

#4 Make Your Leaf Blower Do Double Duty

A leaf blower can be a multitasker. Use it to remove dry, powdery snow that’s no more than one inch thick. A few guidelines to keep in mind:

• Snow should be no heavier than dry leaves.

• Don’t use electric leaf blowers; stick to models that run on batteries or gas.

• Keep it quick and make sure air temp is above freezing to avoid possible damage to the blower.

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How Much Snow Is Too Much Snow on Your Roof?

Check your doors. They’ll warn you first if you’ve got too much snow on your roof.

Image: Zvozdochka/Getty

Odds are your roof is safe. While unlikely, roofs can cave in from too much snow.

If you’re concerned that you might have too much snow on your roof, here’s how to figure out if your roof is at risk — and how to reduce that risk.

Weight of the Snow (Not ‘How Much’) Is What Matters

The critical factor in determining excessive snow loads on your roof isn’t the depth of the snow; it’s the weight, says home improvement expert Jon Eakes.

That’s because wet snow is a whole lot heavier than dry, fluffy snow. In fact, six inches of wet snow is equal to the weight of about 38 inches of dry snow. That’s a huge difference!

The good news is your roof is required by building codes to withstand the heaviest snows for your part of the country.

“Theoretically, if your roof is built to code, it’s built to support more than the normal load of snow and ice,” says Eakes.

How to know if you’ve got wet or dry snow? Your back will let you know. Simply heft a few shovelfuls — you should be able to quickly tell. Plus, local weather forecasts should alert you if snow loads are becoming excessive.

Your Doors Will Tell You If There’s Too Much Snow

Your interior doors are a really good clue. If they begin to stick, that signals there’s enough weight on the center structure of the house to distort the door frame (yikes!).

Ignore doors on exterior walls but check interior doors leading to second-floor bedrooms, closets, and attics in the center of your home. Also, examine the drywall or plaster around the frames of these doors for visible cracks.

Homes that are most susceptible to roof cave-ins are those that underwent sloppy renovations. Improper removal of interior load-bearing walls is often responsible for catastrophic roof collapses from snow.

If You Decide the Snow Must Be Removed

Don’t do it yourself if it means getting on the roof. 

“People die every year just climbing ladders,” Eakes points out. “Add ice and snow and you’re really asking for trouble.”

Instead, call a professional snow removal contractor to safely do the job.

Check to make sure they are licensed and insured. That immediately sets them apart from inexperienced competitors.

Expect to pay $250 to $500 for most jobs. That’s because they need special gear, including sturdy extension ladders, properly anchored safety harnesses, and specialized snow and ice-removal tools.

Don’t expect (or demand) a bone-dry roof at job’s end. The goal is to remove “excessive” weight as opposed to all weight. Plus, any attempt to completely remove the bottom layer of ice will almost always result in irreparable damage to your roofing.

Tips for Getting Snow Off Your Roof From the Ground

If you have a small, one-story bungalow where the roof is just off the ground, taking matters into one’s own hands may be safe — if you can work entirely from the ground and have the right tools.

Long-handled snow rakes work great on freshly fallen snow, and at $40 to $65, they’re relatively affordable. Look for models with sturdy telescoping handles and built-in rollers, which keep the blade safely above the shingles.

Other versions work by releasing the snow from underneath. These models slide between the roof and snow, allowing gravity and the snow’s own weight to do most of the work. These are more pricey, rising well above $100. But it’s a good idea to rethink their use. Eakes points out, “They tend to work their best on light, fluffy snow — the kind that probably doesn’t need to be removed in the first place.”

A couple of tips if you’re going to remove snow from the roof yourself:

1. You’ll need to anticipate where the snow and ice will fall as you pull it off your roof — you won’t want to pull a load of heavy, wet snow down on top of yourself or any helpers.

2. Remember, the goal isn’t to remove all visible snow and ice, but rather just enough to relieve the excessive load on the roof.

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Tips for selling your home in winter

• Make sure that not only the driveway is cleared of snow and ice, but also any and all sidewalks as well. Un-shoveled driveways and sidewalks could be a turn off not to mention a safety liability. 

• Have a place for people to take off their boots or shoes so they are not tracking snow or mud throughout the house. Area rugs or mats along with a bench or chair would be helpful for people to easily shed their shoes and have a place to put them. 

• If you have a working fireplace, make sure it is on when someone is being shown your home. It adds to the warm and cozy feeling of the house you are trying to sell.

• Add some warm colors to help with the warm and inviting feeling of your home: toss pillows, throw rugs, seasonal decorations, a little greenery–all can help create that homey feeling. 

• Turn the heat up a little if needed. Make sure when someone is looking at your home, the inside is at a comfortable temperature. 

• Make sure the house smells good. Fresh baked cookies or treats, apple cider or cinnamon scents are very appealing and add to the warm and comforting feeling in your house. There are a number of simmer pot recipes that will help fill the air with a wonderful aroma.

• If it’s around the holidays keep the decorations simple, tasteful and somewhat generic. Personalized stockings and ornaments should be tucked away for a showing. Less is more. Enhance your home’s features with what you decorate with. Keep it generic enough that potential buyers can see themselves and their own items in the home. 

• Put away any “draft stoppers.” They may be cute but could send a wrong message to potential buyers.