Must-have Winter Tools & Supplies

Winter rolls around each year in temperate and cool climates, but it is somehow so easy to forget about it during the heat of summer and the fun of fall. Waiting until the snow begins to fall to prepare for the season could leave you slipping on the ice. Investing in a few home tools and supplies can make all the difference, especially if you live in an area where winter is intense or long. Even areas where snow and ice are rare calls for keeping a few tools on hand just in case. Pick up these winter tools and supplies to make the season as easy as possible to get through.

It is hard to find the perfect snow shovel because it has to balance both durability and lightweight. Durable shovels tend to be heavy and wear you out during work, while light snow shovels tend to be flimsy. Reinforced plastic is a good choice to balance both features. Metal blades are heavier and wear you out, but they’re recommended if you need to carry loads of snow and ice over long distances.

Handle the shovel yourself to check if the handle is the right length for your exact height. Consider what kind of shoveling you plan to do the most when considering the shape. Rounded scoops are designed for clearing paths and driveways quickly when they only have a thin layer of snow. Flat shovels are for cutting and busting apart snow piled up by snowplows or blowers. You may need both types if you live in an area with heavy snowfall.

Improvising with a credit card to get the ice off your windshield may be a fun trick the first time, but after that, it gets old. You’ll also damage your cards and freeze your fingers doing it that way. Instead, invest in a decent windshield scraper that is easy to keep in the car. The best models feature a swept-back design that sheds the ice away from your hands, keeping them dry and warm even when you forget the gloves.

There are many options for keeping your hands and feet warm when you are outside, taking care of those necessary winter chores. The easiest option is simply picking up packets of air-activated iron and tucking them into your gloves and boots for a few hours of heat. For a longer and hotter effect for tasks like ice-fishing or skiing, consider battery-powered heaters. These heaters tend to come in the form of socks and gloves, or at least liners that fit into your favorite outerwear.

Don’t just keep your feet warm and forget about your boots. It is easy to slip out of your snow-soaked boots only to find you need to get back in them an hour later. Instead of putting on soaked and freezing boots, put them on a boot dryer as soon as you get in. They’ll be dry quickly, so you can comfortably use them later without an unpleasant surprise. Drying out your boots will also keep them looking, smelling, and performing better for years to come as well.

Imagine that you just spent all your spare time shoveling the driveway and scraping the windshield. Now it’s time to get in the car and get to work as soon as possible. But if you insert your key and find the opening blocked, you might lose valuable minutes scrambling to warm it up. The de-icing spray is the quickest and easiest way to deal with the problem. It won’t damage your car’s finish or the lock’s metal either. Other improvised solutions, such as pouring your warm coffee over the lock, will leave residues that damage the metal over time.

Sometimes you just don’t feel like spending another winter shoveling snow every day before work. Why not upgrade this year for a driveway ice melting solution? Salt and other granulated solutions are the old-fashioned choices, but the cost adds up over the winter, and the chemicals can damage your concrete or asphalt surface. For less damage and more reliable results, consider heating cables and nets that stretch over the surface and keep it warm enough to prevent ice from forming.

Make this winter the year you enjoy the snow rather than cursing it. Prepare for the coldest temperatures your area usually sees by stocking up the right equipment and tools. Anything from dealing with snow to getting out in the cold is easy with some supplies on hand.