I just discovered the ‘nonstick driveway’ hack for clearing snow — and it uses this common kitchen staple

Shoveling wet or heavy snow can often be a back-breaking chore, whether you're dealing with just a few inches or several feet. This is especially the case if you don't have a snow blower to quickly blast it off your paths or driveway.

I’ve just discovered a brilliant, simple 'nonstick driveway' trick that makes the challenging task of snow shoveling much faster and easier. Best of all, this unlikely item can be found in your kitchen or pantry.

So, if you want to clear snow fast (without a blower), try this simple kitchen hack for easy shoveling.

Use cooking oil

Surprisingly, cooking oil can do so much more than just crisp up tasty foods, and it could be a great help for shifting snow. What’s more, cooking oil is far cheaper than commercial de-icing products, and readily accessible in your kitchen.

Simply spray a coat of oil across the blade of your shovel before getting to work. This will create a greasy barrier that will allow snow to slide off it, instead of sticking or freezing to the surface.

Plus, it will help you plough through the snow quickly and more efficiently. Before storing your shovel, just remember to give it a good dry with a clean cloth to avoid any messy puddles.

Just bear in mind the snow will still be heavy, and a little patience is required to completely remove it. But this ‘nonstick’ method should take less time, and feel smoother with each pass, eliminating the need to constantly stop to remove stuck ice.

The Snowplow The Original Snow Pusher : $76 at Amazon

This essential tool consists of a wide-blade shovel (36-inch wide), designed to easily shovel snow. With its sturdy 'tuff' brace support system and ergonomic, fiberglass handle, it will make light work out of heavy-duty shovelling.

View Deal

Alternatively, you could make a homemade de-icer using just water and a couple of household ingredients. Simply mix a half-gallon of warm water with six drops of dish soap and a quarter-cup of rubbing alcohol. Essentially, the alcohol has a lower freezing temperature than water, making this a key ingredient for your homemade de-icer.

Then pour or spray the solution over snow and ice around your home to remove the build-up of snow or ice. Once this melts, sweep away the excess water to prevent new ice from forming.

So the next time you’re looking for a quick fix to remove snow from your driveway or paths in less time, just get out the cooking oil.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

• Check out these 5 essential tips before buying a snow blower
• Should you buy a space heater? Here are the pros and cons
• Walking dogs in the snow — 6 essential safety tips