Shoveling Some Snow Removal Tips Your Way

Your Place: Shoveling Some Snow Removal Tips Your Way

Well another winter is upon us and with it comes a demand to remove the white stuff from our walks and driveways.  I’m a real stickler about snow removal, the result of growing up in Michigan and plowing and shoveling my way to lots of cash as soon as I could hold a shovel.

While people all around me use snow throwers, I shovel, even though I have had one of those infernal machines since 1997.

Last January’s blizzard was no exception. It took me 11 hours over two days, but it was exercise, and my gym routine has helped make such marathon sessions pain-free. I’m not everybody (and the rest of the world is grateful for that), so I want to share proper shoveling techniques for those who want to know.

First, if you’re out of shape, don’t exercise regularly, or have trouble breathing or heart problems, don’t shovel snow.

Dress in layers.

Bend at the knees, not at the waist (it’s just like playing tennis), and lift with your legs to protect your spine from injury.Stretch before you shovel to get those muscles working and have a better chance of not seriously hurting yourself.

If the snow is light and fluffy, you can simply push it out of the way—but use the same technique. Push the snow from the edge of the handle, shifting body weight from back leg to front leg instead of bending at the waist.

I know I sound like a (pick one) Pilates, yoga, TRX, tennis and swimming coaches, but protect your back by using your legs and abdominal muscles to lift the snow. “Pull in your abs and don’t boink,” as one says. If the snow is heavy and wet, bend the knees, lift with the legs, but move smaller amounts.

Rest regularly. If you try to shovel lots of snow at light speed, you increase risk of injury.

The shovel? It’s somewhere in the back of the garage, so you better start looking for it now. I buy a new one every three years, depending on how bad the previous winter was and if there was a lot of ice to deal with.

I prefer 18-inch-wide shovels with small blades and offset handles to cut down on back strain.

I have a brush with a telescoping handle for the car and a snow rake for the Home roof, plus a coarse-surface broom, and an ice chopper.

Cross your fingers for another mild winter, enjoy the outdoor exercise and take your time to avoid over doing it.

Tom Stachler is a licensed Broker and Builder marketing condo and homes in the Ann Arbor Michigan community and surrounding areas such as Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, Milan Ypsilanti and Pinckney real estate markets.  Note the Search Properties link above to view a complete Inventory of homes and condos for sale.  Also click on the resources tab above for other helpful information Links, contractor discounts and sources.   Have questions want sell your home or get a price ?  Go to  www.MyPrice.guru to get started and see comparable home sales.  Or maybe you are searching for homes and want to view an updated MLS inventory report created for those Buying properties .  Hit the contact me link to the right or call us with any questions because we would love to hear from you.  We also have a Contractor Discount page here on our website or many helpful Links in the tab above for more resources.  

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