Visit Your Local Hardware Store For These Items Before Winter

There are a number of steps that are important to take before the arrival of winter. If you've recently moved to a state in which the winters are harsh, you'll need to think about the supplies that you should buy before the snow begins to fall. One place that you should visit is a local hardware store. In addition to selling things such as tools, pipes, and lumber, many hardware stores sell a selection of supplies that you'll use over the course of the winter. Here are some things that you should plan to add to your shopping cart.

Snow Shovels

You'll likely want to buy at least one shovel for the upcoming winter, and your local hardware store will have a variety of options for you. Some shovels have small blades, while others have large blades. There are advantages to each style. The former is good if your children will be helping you shovel your driveway, as they may not be able to lift a large shovel that is full of snow. The latter style allows you to move a lot of snow in a single pass. Shovels with curved handles, meanwhile, are a good choice because they prevent back pain by allowing you to stand more upright while you shovel.

Sand And Salt

When it comes to making your front walkway and your driveway safe to navigate by foot, sand and salt are a pair of useful products. They both come in large bags, which is ideal because you'll likely use both products multiple times over the course of the winter. Salt is effective for actually melting snow and ice; its ability to deal with ice, in particular, is valuable because ice can be difficult to remove with a shovel. Sand, meanwhile, adds traction underfoot. Together, these products can dramatically reduce your risk of slipping on your driveway or walkway.

Brush And Scraper

People who live in snowy environments almost always carry a brush and scraper tool in their vehicle, but you probably don't have one if you've previously lived where winters are warm. This dual-purpose tool allows you to brush fallen snow off your vehicle and then scrape off any icy deposits that remain on the windows and windshield. While you'll frequently use this tool in the driveway of your home, you'll want to store it in your vehicle so that it's handy if you're ever out somewhere during a snowfall. You can readily find each of these products at your local hardware store.