This “Non-Stick” Driveway Trick Makes Snow Removal Shockingly Easy
I honestly used to dread seeing the weather forecast turn purple because I knew a ton of snow was coming my way. Shoveling is hard enough on your back without the added frustration of heavy wet snow clinging to your shovel like it is glued there. It turns a twenty minute chore into an hour long ordeal where you spend half your time banging the shovel against the ground just to clear it off. It is exhausting and demoralizing to fight with your tools while you are freezing. Thankfully, I found a trick that makes snow slide right off.
What's The Problem?
The real issue is not just the weight of the snow itself but how it behaves when it hits the blade of your shovel. When that cold snow hits a relatively warmer shovel surface or just gets packed down tight it creates a bond that refuses to let go. You end up lifting the same pile of snow three times before it finally slides off. That extra weight adds up fast and leaves you with sore shoulders and a half cleared driveway that feels impossible to finish.
A Solution Hiding In Your Kitchen
It turns out the answer to this winter headache is probably sitting right next to your olive oil. Regular cooking spray is your snow shovel’s new best friend. Any oil based spray like canola or vegetable oil works perfectly to create a slick barrier between the metal or plastic of your shovel and the wet snow. It works the same way as when you spray cooking spray on a pan to stop your food from sticking.
Preparation Is Key For Success
For this to work its best you need to start with a dry and clean shovel. If your shovel is already wet or icy the spray will not coat it evenly. I also learned that it helps to keep your shovel cold before you start. If you bring a warm shovel out from inside the house, the snow melts on contact and refreezes instantly. Leave the shovel on your porch for a few minutes then give it a good spray before you dig in.
Applying The Non-Stick Coating
You do not need to drown the shovel in oil to get results. Just give the front and back of the blade a nice even coating of the spray. It should look slick but not dripping wet. You might need to reapply it if you have a really large driveway or if the snow is particularly sticky, but one good coat usually lasts for a while. It’s a small step that takes ten seconds to do but saves you so much time in the long run.
The Difference It Makes
You’ll be able to notice the difference instantly when the snow just glides right off without any resistance. It lets you get into a rhythm where you can just scoop and toss without that jarring stop when the snow sticks. It does not make the snow lighter but it definitely makes the work smoother and much faster. You aren't stopping every few feet to kick the shovel or bang it on the pavement, so you can get back inside to your hot cocoa much sooner.
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This little trick has honestly changed the way I shovel for good. It takes something that used to feel like a battle and makes it so much easier. We can not stop the snow from falling but we can definitely be smarter about how we handle it. I hope this saves your back a little bit of strain this winter and helps you get that driveway clear with a little less frustration. Stay warm out there.
Bliss Donahue-Power
