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Cool Savings on Snow Removal

Posted 1:20AM 12/12/12 Savings Experiment, Home & Garden |
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Where do you buy your snow removal supplies?

Did you find our video on snow removal helpful?

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Winter is here and with the temperatures dropping, you should be prepared in the event of a snow storm, but how can you remove snow without getting buried by the costs?

Our experts went to several big box retailers and compared the total cost of a shovel, a car scraper and rock salt. Kmart was the most expensive at $49.96, while the supplies cost $40.92 at Home Depot. Walmart and Lowes were close in price, but Lowes offered the most savings with a total of $32.94 for the three items.

In this case, though, it's not about saving money -- it's about saving time. While snow removal supplies are cheapest at Lowes, buying a basic tarp will help you clear the frozen flakes fast. A tarp is large enough to cover most cars, and usually costs between $8 and $15.

All you need to do is throw one over your vehicle before a storm and use bungee cords to keep it secure. After the snowfall, you can easily remove the tarp and watch the snow slide right off. That's a big convenience for a very small price.

So, before your area becomes a winter wonderland, gear up for snow removal using these great tips. You'll save both time and money.

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kayt1204

SoFla hasn't had snow since 1977. Don't buy any snow equipment.

March 05 2013 at 8:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Xhapytrkr

I put ours in the garage and then go to bed. we're retired. Let it snow Let it snow we have no place to go. : )
We've been there done that. Now it's your turn, do what best works for you, but be careful.

February 14 2013 at 6:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rockymtnal

Bought a quality snow shovel 15 years ago, and it's still doing fine. I usually go through an ice scraper or two every season, but so what...they're cheap, at a couple of bucks each. A push broom works well for moving snow off the roof, hood and windshield. Tried the tarp idea in the past, but it either froze to the car or I got more snow on myself trying to remove it than using a push broom (my usual, very easy method of removing snow from the roof, hood and windshield of the car).

February 14 2013 at 12:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ga7smi

it will eventually melt - just leave it alone

February 14 2013 at 12:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
IVAN

Ahh, but this takes the forethought to do such, and how many of us have such foreknowledge of an impending snow storm to do so ? That or the gumption to go out and put the tarp on ? Or what happens if the tarp freezes to the car ?
And by the way, more than an inch or so of snow may make the job that much more difficult...

February 13 2013 at 5:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buckingham's

We got ZERO inches of snow here in southeastern Washington state.

February 12 2013 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dmande6304

the dope had a garage right behind him

February 12 2013 at 12:51 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Dmande6304's comment
IVAN

But it was probably filled with junk to the ceiling, like many who have such niceties to "park their cars" in...

February 13 2013 at 5:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
yocoty

I was thinking the same. In fact there are two spaces. lol

February 15 2013 at 9:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
arenadood

One quick tip. If you know it is going to snow or you have a chance of frost on your windshield, if you can, pull your wiper arms out away from the windshield. This will make cleaning snow or ice from the windshield without damaging your wiper blades.

February 12 2013 at 11:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to arenadood's comment
IVAN

So what happens when the ice freezes the wiper arms in the out position ? Me I just use De-ice, works great every time.

February 13 2013 at 5:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
onebigcanine

my best deal was finding a 25 yo Toro snowblower that sat in someone's garage and all it needed was a carb cleaning and 50 cent piece of fuel line. It took me about 1 hour and 2 or 3 beers to do it in. It starts up within 3 pulls and it has run like a champ for 10 years now..Just remember to ALWAYS add fuel stabilizer and keep the fuel tank(s) tightly capped.

February 09 2013 at 6:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
val

I just sit back and wait for it to melt!

February 08 2013 at 10:07 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to val's comment
IVAN

Good idea, depending on how far north you live. And if you don't have anywhere to go in a hurry. Better yet, just live in the tropics...No snow to worry about !

February 13 2013 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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