Best Winter Tools for Your Home

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Ready for snow?

Depending on where you live, you might be getting the first snowstorm of the season this week. Learn how to prep for the first big snowfall and stay safe out there! 

Between slippery sidewalks and buried vehicles, it can be hard to want to leave the house. But you don’t have to hibernate to make it through the winter season. 

From the garage to the garden, we made a list of our favorite winter tools to keep Old Man Winter at bay around your home so you can enjoy the weather. Let it snow? Bring it on. 



Winter tools for your house

Piles of snow and ice can damage your home. With the right winter tools, you can make your house safer this winter.

Roof safety

Best roof rake
GYMAX Roof Rake
$75.99
pro Telescoping handle
pro Lightweight construction
pro Sturdy rake head

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

As snow and ice on your roof melt, they form pools and refreeze. These ice dams expand and damage parts of your roof like shingles, gutters, and downspouts. The good news is you can avoid the risk with winter tools like a roof rake or roof cables. 

A roof rake like the GYMAX Roof Rake is the simplest solution, especially if you have a single-level home. You can use this winter tool to gather snow and knock it off the roof. Look for a sturdy, telescoping roof rake with a long reach to clear as much snow as you can.

Offering a slightly more high-tech solution, roof cables stay warm to melt the snow and ice on your roof. They require installation and planning, but they’ll save you work during the winter season.

Driveway safety

Best snow blower
Snow Joe SJ627E
$249.00
pro Electrical power
pro 15-amp motor
pro Directional chute

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Driving in the winter can be scary. With a few precautions, you can make your driveway a safer place. 

Start with salt. You probably see heavy bags of road salt on sidewalks around your neighborhood, but did you know standard snow melt can harm the skin on pets’ paws and damage plants? 

Try a more eco-friendly pet-safe snow melter instead to keep the pets and plants happy. An ice-melt spreader distributes the salt evenly for better traction and (after a good rinse) doubles as a post-winter garden tool for sowing seeds or watering plants. 

Snow removal equipment like snow shovels and snow blowers do the same job in different ways. Snow shovels require more manual labor, but attachments like a second handle or ergonomic design can speed up the job. A snow blower is more expensive, but this powerful tool makes shoveling snow much easier (and kinda fun).

Best roof cables
Frost King HC30A Heating Cables
$39.42
pro 60 feet long
pro Easy to install
pro For roof or pipes

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Whether you’re out doing winter yard work or taking the dog for a walk, you need traction to tread through slick spots on the sidewalk. Attachable shoe cleats fit over most shoes and keep you upright in slippery, snowy conditions. 

You can also try heated mats or snow-melting cables for your walkway. Much like roof cables, these devices warm the surface automatically, paving a pre-melted path to your car or the street. But be warned, they may attract neighborhood wildlife.

Pipes and plumbing

Pipe wrap
""
Reflectix SPW0602508 Spiral Pipe Wrap
$8.88
pro 25 feet long
pro Easy to install
pro Keeps pipes from freezing

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Pipe insulation keeps your plumbing from freezing and prevents potentially damaging leaks. Before the first winter storm, install pipe heating cables, pipe wrap, and an insulated faucet cover to keep your pipes warm all winter. It doesn’t take long to install insulation and keep your water running throughout the cold weather. 

We also recommend keeping a water leak detector under major appliances throughout your home. They work year-round and alert you to leaks so you can stop flooding before it starts.

Emergency safety 

Best portable power
Jackery Portable Power Station
Jackery Portable Power Station
$239.99
pro Eco-friendly power source
pro Solar ready recharging
pro USB and AC outlets

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

You don’t have to live up north for winter weather to cause a power outage. Ice storms and hail are notorious for freezing power lines and cutting off electricity to homes. 

We recommend keeping a portable generator like the Jackery Power Station handy in case the power goes out. Preparing candles, flashlights, food and water, and other emergency items is also wise in case you’re stuck without power for over 24 hours.

Winter tools for your car

While it’s tempting to stay inside all winter, you have to leave the house eventually. Keep your car road-ready by checking windshield wipers and tire pressure, especially before big storms hit.

Windshield

Ice scraper
Birdrock Car Snow Brush
$36.48
pro Scraper and snow brush
pro 270-degree pivoting head
pro Extendable handle

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Upgrade your old ice scraper this winter to one that handles ice and snow. The best ice scrapers have telescoping handles for hard-to-reach places and pivoting brush handles to simplify cleaning your windshield, like the Birdrock Car Snow Brush.

Tires and traction

Tire chains
Peerless 0153005 Auto-Trac Tire Traction Chain
Starts at $91.40
pro Various sizes
pro Easy to install
pro Set of 2

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Road conditions can be dangerous during the winter season, so take precautions and equip your vehicle with the right tools. 

Snow tires or snow chains grip the road for traction while driving and make it easier to back out of slippery patches.  

Traction pads offer another option for safely backing out or getting unstuck from snowbanks and slippery ice patches. You can even find some that double as ice scrapers.

Emergency kits for cars

Bad luck can strike at any time of year. We recommend keeping an car emergency kit in your car in case something strands you out in the cold. Your winter emergency kit should include blankets, hand warmers (electrical or chemical), a first aid kit, food, and water.

Winterizing garden tools

Plant rollers
""
MISUMISO Plant Caddy
$20.99
pro 2 colors
pro Easily move large plants
pro Set of 2

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Winter is a slow season for avid gardeners, but your yard, plants, and decorations still need help through the chilly months. 

Before the first snow falls, cover your patio furniture or store it in your garage for winter storage. Furniture covers protect your patio chairs and tables from water and cold weather so they’ll be ready to use when spring comes.

If you have flowerbeds, insulate them with mulch or a garden blanket to keep them warm. Place potted plants on rollers so you can take them inside, or place clear bins over your plants to keep them warm without blocking light.

Final word

Whether you worry about your driveway, garden, or your home, the right winter tools can be your first defense against snow, ice, and winter conditions. 

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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