How to Shovel Snow

Snow shoveling is a necessary evil for residents living in a cold winter climate. Whether you have to shovel an entire driveway, walkway and sidewalk or just the front steps, snow shoveling can be hard work and each year, many snow shovelers are injured. A few snow shovelers will over do it, and many will suffer serious medical problems like asthma attacks and heart attacks! To make snow shoveling easier, faster and safe, read on!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Good Quality Snow Shovel
• Sand, Ice Melt or Salt
• Water
• Aspirin or Other OTC Pain Medicine
• Winter Coat
• Gloves
• Snow Boots
• A Hot Shower

1. BUY A GOOD SNOW SHOVEL: Begin by purchasing a light-weight, good quality snow shovel. There's no excuse for using an old, rusty snow shovel with a wooden handle. There's some great quality lightweight snow shovels available at the hardware store for $20 to $40. Buy one - you'll thank yourself come the first shovel-able snow storm of the season!

2. MONITOR THE SNOWFALL: For lightweight, fluffy snow, or when there's just an inch or two of snowfall, shoveling once at the end of the storm is fine. But if forecasters are predicting more than six inches of light, fluffy snow, or more than four inches of wet, heavy snow, you'll want to consider making several trips outside to shovel during the storm. Shoveling a foot or more of heavy, wet snow can be very taxing; it's much easier to shovel two or three times during the storm instead.

3. DRESS FOR SNOW SHOVELING: Remove rings and watches, put on a pair of gloves, snow boots and dress in layers. Snow shoveling is hard work - it's exercise! So there's a good chance you'll get a bit warm as you shovel. Dressing in layers enables you to strip off the top layer if you get too warm while shoveling snow.

4. USE PROPER SHOVELING TECHNIQUE: Bend at the knees, not the back! Also, use different shoveling methods depending on the snow. Just a couple inches of fluffy snow can be "pushed" with the snow shovel - much like a hand-held plow. When the snow is deep, wet or heavy, take small bites of snow with the shovel.

5. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS: Snow shoveling is exercise. So just like a jog, run or work out at the gym, you'll need to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after going outside to shovel snow. Avoid caffeine when shoveling or taking part in any other exercise, as this is dehydrating. Dehydration will make you more likely that you'll experience aches, pains and other discomfort after shoveling.

6. PACE YOURSELF: There's no need to shovel all at once - this is a big mistake that many snow shovelers make. They feel like they must shovel all the snow in one massive snow shoveling session. It's actually easier to shovel in rounds. Shovel for 30 to 45 minutes, and then relax for an hour or two. Return back outside and shovel for an additional 30 to 45 minutes and repeat until the snow is all shoveled. You can also shovel a bit before work and then after work. To ensure accessibility to and from the home and along the sidewalk, begin by shoveling one small path. Then widen the path on subsequent trips outside to shovel.

7. DON'T FORGET TO SHOVEL THE SIDEWALK! Many cities and towns will issue a fine of $50 or more if residents don't shovel the sidewalk in front of their home within 12 hours of the end of a snow storm. So avoid a possible fine and get that sidewalk shoveled.

8. APPLY ICE MELT, SAND OR SALT: Once the snow has been shoveled, apply an ice melt (pet-safe), sand or salt to treat the slick surface that often forms on pavement after the snow has been removed. Ice melter, sand or salt will prevent slips and falls on the freshly-shoveled surface.

9. TAKE A HOT SHOWER: When snow shoveling is complete, take a hot shower and stretch while under the hot water. This will help relax muscles and it will lessen aches and pains experienced after a snow shoveling operation. If you must go directly to work or school after shoveling snow, bring along a heating pad or heat pack and apply it to your back to help relax the muscles, creating a similar effect to the hot shower.

10. TAKE AN ASPIRIN: After snow shoveling, take an aspirin in anticipation of experiencing aches and pains. If the medicine is already in your system by the time the discomfort sets in, your experience of the pain will be less uncomfortable.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch the weather forecast! If the snow is going to turn over to rain at the end of the storm, this will make the snow heavy and slushy. This makes the snow very difficult to shovel, so if possible, go outside to shovel snow before the snow turns over to rain. This will make for less potentially difficult shoveling at the end of the storm.
• Do you have kids who live in your neighborhood? Children love to shovel snow in exchange for some pocket money. So if it's a night, weekend or snow day, ask the neighborhood children if they're interested in shoveling your driveway, walkway, sidewalk or stairs. It may be the best $20 you spend all winter long!
• Do not use ice melt unless it is pet-safe. Many dogs and cats can be poisoned if they lick their paws after walking through ice melt. Even if you don't have dogs and cats, your neighbors do and you don't want your ice melt to cause problems for another person's animal.
• Do not shovel snow if you are in poor health and have doctor-imposed restrictions on activity. Do not risk injury or health problems; hire someone else to shovel or plow the snow, or consider getting a snow blower.
• Snow shoveling is a form of exercise. If you're planning on visiting the gym later in the day, shorten your workout to account for the snow shoveling performed earlier in the day. This will prevent aches and pains from excessive exercise.

Resources

• How to Drive in the Snow
• More Tips for Driving in the Snow
• How to Prepare for a Snow Storm
• How to Remove Snow and Ice From a Car
• Save Money on Home Heating Costs
• Easy Home Improvements to Save on Home Heating Costs

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on 12/7/2009 You might want to try one of the 2 newly invented snow shovels/pushers from the Canadian Home Hardware Stores. These shovels have a small release handle inside the large one that you can pull to change the blade angles. The blade on the Swivel Snow Shovel can be angled from side to side, or straight ahead in a locked position. The Tilt Snow Shovel uses the same system, but the blade functions up or down in 3 positions to push or shovel snow.