Replace Your Rake With A Top-Rated Alternative From Home Depot

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Raking leaves is just one of those chores that has to be done, whether you like it or not. If you're tired of the repetitive motion of raking, however, or finding it too physically exhausting or downright overwhelming, using a powerful leaf blower can be a better option. If you're in the market for one, The Home Depot carries a top-rated model: the Makita Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Leaf Blower.

Retailing for $269, this leaf blower comes equipped with a battery and charger, making its value closer to $460 all together. The blower reaches 459 cubic feet per minute (CFM) — the volume of air it moves — and top speeds of 116 mph, which is suited to lifting wet leaves or clumps of grass from your lawn after mowing. With the battery loaded in, the blower weighs 6 ½ pounds, and there's also an included soft grip. The Makita blower uses Extreme Protection Technology, described by the manufacturer as a "protective seal" that's meant to deliver additional resilience against dust and water that the tool's internal mechanism might be exposed to.

At the time of writing, customers have given this blower a 4.4-star average from more than 1,300 reviews. It receives high marks for its power. One five-star review shared, "I bought this just to clean leaves off my deck, but when I realized how powerful it is, I'm using it everywhere!"

While getting the right tool will have a major impact on your outdoor labor, knowing how to make the most of it matters just as much. For starters, since this Makita leaf blower gets its power from a rechargeable battery, some individuals may find that keeping a spare battery on hand — or even two extras around — will help them tackle larger blowing jobs without having to wait for a full charge. Without any extras, customers report the tool running anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. Makita reminds buyers to only purchase genuine Makita-brand batteries to use with its blower.

Further, while the blower weighs only 6 ½ pounds, a shoulder harness strap system could be a good add-on for any individuals who fatigue more easily, or for those who will be blowing for longer periods of time. Aside from clearing out leaves, the tool also could be used for other outdoor tasks. For example, you could use a leaf blower for rain gutter maintenance in the fall, before icy winter conditions set in.

Once the winter is here, however, you can try using the blower for a simple hack that'll make cleaning up snow easy: Several customer reviews mention that the blower does fairly well at removing recently fallen snow, too, so it can continue to earn its keep year-round. Yet another option is to use this blower to make cleaning your garage a breeze – just remember to wear protective gear when working in a cramped and dirty space, which will save you from getting dust in your eyes, nose, or mouth.