Efficient way to shovel driveway (under 4min 30sec including snow from plow) - How to remove snow

Shoveling a driveway in less than 4min 30 seconds (not rushing at all) using efficient clearing technique. - How to remove snow/how to shovel snow
15-20cms (6-8 inches) of fresh snow had fallen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where I live, has over 2.3m (86in) of snow on average each year. It's a mix of powder, really wet stuff, freezing rain or layers of snow and rain. This video was shot on the less wet type snow, not quite full powder but technique is similar regardless. I have been shovelling for over 20 years and 90+% of the time the snowblower just sits in the garage because it is slower.

Start by clearing a walkway length-wise half-way through your driveway. Using this walkway, push the snow with the shovel towards the side, ideally without taking any steps towards it. If you have a double width driveway, push as far as you can without moving. Once you are done one side, go down the walkway pushing the other side. If you have a double width driveway, repeat again until you have pushed all the snow to the edges. Now lift the snow you pushed on top of the existing snowbank (use your legs) and you're done!

Note that for heavy/wet snow, it can be harder to push and you may need to lift and throw it on the snowbank (or walk through the remaining snow to drop it on the snowbank if throwing is too hard). Once the big accumulation is done you can push the rest or as far as you can. It may seem like it does not help with heavy snow but the worst-case is you shovel like you used to so nothing lost...

Other tips from the comments:
- Yes, if you have a snowblower or a tractor etc it is "easier", that's not the point. Most of the time, it is slower, many people don't have them and using a snowblower all the time is lazy. Don't get me wrong, if you have super heavy stuff you'll probably want to use those things if you have them at your disposal but it should be the exception rather than the rule.
- Remove tire tracks so they don't ice up and cause problems all season
- Lift with your legs, not with your back
- Don't wait too long to clear the driveway, if it starts to melt or solidify you will be swearing.
- Wet snow is clearly heavier, take your time, there is no rush
- If you have a snowblower, shovelling like this will still be faster most times except for very wet snow or when there is a very high amount. A second option is to push everything to the sides with a shovel and use the snowblower to just throw the piles you made over to the snowbank.

- Apparently this is a good AMSR snow shovelling video, if that's what you're into, glad it helps!

[atvkid]

This only works for powder, not the heavy wet stuff that breaks your back

[phiksit]

"How to efficiently shovel a small driveway in perfect conditions"

[antwan]

for anyone saying not for wet snow all you do with deep deep snow is you keep to a load that is under 15 to 20 pounds and you just keep going . Saw a young guy go for the bottome, and i showed the young man you gotta start from the top work your way down if you feel any strain you drop the load pick less of it up until you feel the weight is correct for your exact strength for that day. Every day your body is different, and a different position has to be tried to give other muscles rest as you put in the potential long hours of shoveling.

[deltafour]

Update: had the first snowfall in Michigan. Tried this technique on my driveway. Finished my driveway in less than 5 minutes with no back ache and not a bead of sweat. My neighbor which has the same size driveway started the same time was only halfway done using his snowblower when I was closing my garage door. Thank for posting this video! It truly was a godsend!

[Edgedamage]

I have been doing this since I was 10 or 11 .... Showed my dad how to do this, so much faster and we had a three car driveway. It really works

[Coreever]

This only works if 1- your driveway is smooth. Mine is so bumpy the shovel snags. 2 - snow is light. We just got 2 feet dumped.

[JoseMartinez-ouej]

Excellent! I do it by myself. Basic intelligence. Those who want something more efficient and easier have the choice to buy a snowblower. I am in my late sixties and prefer to do the excercise even if my drive way is big. Matter of keep myself fit. Thank you Sunshine.

[papabits]

You could blow it with a leaf blower it’s so fluffy

[timothym]

My friend who does this for a business showed me this method 30 some years ago. It is very efficient. Thanks for sharing it.

[deltafour]

I am so stupid. I never thought of dividing the driveway down the middle then do each half at a time . Pure genius! Thank you!

[GavStaR]

You complainers are missing the point - CLEARLY. While OBVIOUSLY larger driveways will take longer than 4 minutes 30 sec, he's suggesting if you apply this technique it will REDUCE the time it would normally take to shovel your driveway. A bunch of "yahoos" we've got in here.

P.S. Thank you @Sunshine Productions for the wonderful video. Very helpful.

[tmorrissey]

Just wanted to thank you for this video, I started my own landscaping/lawn care company and I do snow removal in winter. THIS METHOD IS FASTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE $1, 000 snow blower! I’ve been using this method for 2 winters now and have blazed past my competition using blowers. I’ve even had customer switch to me. I can do a 3 car driveway sidewalk and porch in about 20 mins

[dhwell]

They way you are doing this here is exactly how I shoved my driveway when I was living is suburbia. (Except that I'd always keep the unshoveled snow to my right.)

[meirmeir]

I like the 'down the middle first', gonna try that!! Thanks for your video!

[djcnell]

It usually takes me about 20 minutes to shovel my snow (bcuz I live in a big house on a corner)... After trying this, it only took me 10 minutes (including throwing salt down too) and my back DON'T hurt. I actually helped my neighbor do his too. Thanks for posting this video

[kellyrodgers]

Thanks for making this video, you've a very efficient way of shoveling snow.
This technique'll come in quite handy the next snowload I get.

[dddrpeppermrp]

this is super useful! these last few months of the year in northern colorado and plagued by snow, this really does help!

[michaelwright]

Been doing this since moving into the new property, works great with fresh snow fall... Heavy stuff, snowblower or plow.

[AndrewDaniele]

this worked amazingly today! thank you! (also, it was heavy snow and still worked in Canada, for anyone commenting it wouldn't work, give it a try!)

[wesman]

That was very quick and easy.

This reminds me of the UPS training videos before you get hired… then when you're in the field, it's a whole different environment. Perfect conditions vs obstacles…