Removing snow and ice is not always easy, but it's a necessary part of winter life for many people across the globe. Luckily, we've got some tips and tricks for snow removal to make the chore easier—and none of them include corrosive ice-melt salt. From leaf blowers to cooking spray, we have eight snow removal hacks to help protect your property and ensure your family's safety.

1. Cover Your Driveway with Tarps

While unconventional, you can cover any surface with a tarp to avoid snow blanketing it. Seems simple, right? It is. If the forecast calls for snow, lay out a few strategically placed tarps on your sidewalk, driveway, and any other surfaces you don't want snow to cover. Once the snow stops falling, drag the tarps away and admire your perfectly clean walkways. Depending on how much snow has fallen, you might need assistance removing the tarps.

If you don't have tarps and don't want to spend money on new ones, inexpensive plastic drop cloths can also be effective. Be sure to use thicker ones, so they don't rip when you drag them.

It's not recommended to place tarps on your vehicle as they'll likely scratch the paint as you pull them off, especially under the added weight of snow. Instead, use something soft, like a blanket.

2. Spray Cooking Spray on Your Snow Shovel

If you've ever shoveled snow, you're familiar with the frustration of the snow sticking to the shovel. Half of your time removing the snow can be spent fighting with the exponentially growing clump of snow on the shovel. To avoid this issue, coat your snow shovel with cooking spray before shoveling snow. The oil in the spray will help the snow easily glide off the shovel, dramatically increasing your efficiency.

3. Fire Up Your Leaf Blower

You might want to wait before winterizing your leaf blower—it could be an invaluable tool come wintertime. Removing snow with a leaf blower is easiest when the snow is fresh, so it's still light and fluffy. If you wait until it has compacted or until after a freeze and thaw cycle, your leaf blower won't be as effective.

4. Use a Wet/Dry Vac

No leaf blower? No problem! A standard wet/dry vac might also do the trick, but probably not how you're imagining. Instead of trying to suck the snow with your wet/dry vac, move the hose to the exhaust side of your vacuum—this will turn your wet/dry vac into a blower.

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5. Make DIY Ice Melt

From environmental concerns to rust, there are several reasons you might want to avoid spreading ice-melt salt on your driveway and sidewalk. Instead, try this DIY ice melt. All you need is vinegar and water—mix up a 1:1 solution and spray the liquid directly on the ice and snow to help melt it.

6. Spread Sand for Traction

If you only want some traction on a walkway, sand is a great tool for the job. Sand is especially helpful for adding traction to compacted snow, which is incredibly difficult to remove. If you don't have sand, cat litter offers the same solution.

7. Swap the Plastic Shovel for a Metal One

If you've ever attempted to shovel compacted snow with a plastic snow shovel, you know it's a lost cause—many have likely been broken in this process. Instead, remove compacted snow with a real, flat metal shovel. The key is to use a sturdy shovel that won't bend when it strikes the snow. While it will still be hard work, a metal shovel will at least make it possible.

Aways shovel snow while it's fresh and not compacted. Never wait overnight, as the temperatures will dip, and the snow will likely freeze over and harden.

8. Rent a Snow Blower

If snow is expected, you might want to consider using a snow blower. While it might not be necessary for you to buy one, most areas have companies that will rent snow blowers for a few days, a week, or longer. Snow blowers aren't necessary for minor amounts of snow or effective on hardened snow, but if the forecast calls for a large amount in a short period, they're an invaluable tool.