Ditch The Shovel: 10 Better Ways To Remove Snow

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When the snowy season peeks its head around the corner, many picture fun days of building snowmen and having epic snowball fights. However, if you're the one who does most of the shoveling, you might not be as excited about falling snow. It could be a chore that you're forced to deal with often. 

Let's face it, getting rid of snow, especially with a shovel, can be back-breaking work. Luckily, there are other ways to tackle the job without having to pick up a shovel at all. From tools and other winter storm essentials to clever DIYs, these alternatives might make snowy days seem less dreadful.

A 2011 study conducted by the Nationwide Children's Hospital found that approximately 11,500 snow shovel incidents result in ER visits every year. The movements required can be strenuous on the body, including the hips, back, joints, shoulders, and knees. Shoveling is more difficult the older you get, and can even be stressful on the heart, putting individuals at a higher risk of heart attack. No matter how you remove snow, it's crucial to take safety precautions and act with great care. Perhaps, though — you'll find a new alternative that works best for your situation, so you can officially ditch that shovel.

Just because fall is coming to an end doesn't mean you should pack the old leaf blower away. You can easily use one to blast snow away from an area. It's ideal for fresh snow that isn't compact, and when it's less than a few inches high. After you're finished and the snow builds up again — simply head back outside for another round.

A tarp is a basic item many people use for camping or covering equipment. Tarps can be repurposed around the home in clever ways as well. You can even use one to get rid of snow! Lay a tarp down on your outdoor steps or on a walkway before the snow starts to fall. Once you're ready to clear the spot, grab ahold of the end and give it a pull. You'll be able to drag the snow-covered tarp to a place that's out of the way. 

Take action with a few simple supplies you might already have in your cabinet. You can create a homemade de-icer by mixing together 8 cups of warm water, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, and 6 drops of dish soap in a bucket. Once you're ready, pour the liquid over the snow you want to disappear. Just be sure to clean up the water left behind with a broom, so that it doesn't turn into ice.

Don't like shoveling snow? Let a heated mat melt it for you. Suppliers make a variety of mats you can lay down in areas you want to keep clear, especially stairs and walkways. This HeatTrak Snow Melting Mat can be placed near an entryway, so you don't step on snow the moment you walk outside. These types of electric-powered mats aren't cheap, but your back will certainly thank you for it.

You can actually get rid of snow very quickly with a large piece of plywood. Put your hands on both sides of it, then slide it forward to move the snow out of the way. It's a popular hack many people use, and it certainly speeds up the removal process. However, it does require bending over, so it could leave you a little achy after a while. This board method works best with fluffy snow.

Speaking of pushing snow around, if you prefer a sturdy tool instead of a DIY method, they make shovel-like snow pushers that have wheels on the bottom. Instead of using a typical shovel that requires a variety of motions, with this, you just hold onto the handlebars and walk forward. A tool like this, such as the Heavy-Duty Snow Pusher from Best Choice Products, would be super helpful on a winter day.

If using a shovel wasn't hard enough on the body, some people take the risk of climbing up on their roof to shovel the snow off. Yikes. Instead, try a clever tool that can help you clear your snow-covered roof while keeping your feet on the ground. Some roof rakes, such as this Snow Roof Rake from Vevor, can extend 21 feet. While raking the snow off, just be very careful that there isn't anyone in its path.

If you want to say goodbye to that terrible shovel, you may want to invest in a snow blower. They've been around for many decades, making the wintertime chore less painful. Using a snow blower takes some preparation, like deciding where exactly you'd like the snow to go and picking up any debris that'll be in its path. There are also some snow blower safety tips to keep in mind to ensure that it all goes smoothly.

You know how people roll a ball of snow around on the ground until it's big enough for a snowman? Well, that's kind of what this hack entails. You form a snowball a little smaller than a soccer ball on your lawn, then start rolling it. If the snow is wet and in the right sticky condition, the ball should get larger as it pulls the entire layer of snow up. It's another method where you'd have to be careful about your back, but it's so much quicker and more fun than shoveling!

We could all use a little help sometimes. There's no shame in putting down the shovel to protect your body, especially if you're older or not in the best physical condition. You can call in a snow removal company to get the job done. Or, better yet, see if there are youngsters in the neighborhood looking to make some extra money over winter break. However, just don't be surprised if they end up loathing the task, too.