The expert explained the difference between shovels for different types of snow

With record snowfalls hitting Russia this year, the issue of effective territory clearance has become particularly relevant for owners of private homes and cottages. Despite the variety of mechanized machinery, the most versatile and affordable tool is still the shovel. Maria Shurakova, a consultant at the Cycle company, told Izvestia about this on January 21.

According to her, the shovel does not require fuel or charging, is always at hand and is suitable for solving a variety of tasks — from clearing paths and house territory to snow removal around the garage. It can be stored in any convenient place and carried in the trunk of a car for emergencies.

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Who is responsible for clearing the road infrastructure and how are the standards of street cleaning observed?

"When choosing a tool for a site, you need to pay attention to models with a bucket 40-50 cm wide and about 10 cm deep, which allow you to capture more snow at a time. For light snow and neat surfaces such as tiles or asphalt, plastic buckets are well suited, and for dense or frozen snow, it is better to choose shovels with reinforced aluminum edges that protect the edge from wear," the specialist advised.

The handle is also an important element: the optimal length of 120-140 cm helps to work without a strong tilt, reducing the load on the back, and the curved shape or additional handle makes the process less tedious.

Shurakova advises motorists to have a separate compact shovel in the trunk, up to 70-80 cm long and weighing less than a kilogram, to quickly clear the wheels and the space around the car. At the end of the winter season, the tool must be cleaned of snow and dirt, thoroughly dried and stored in a room with a positive temperature, which will significantly extend its service life.

On January 15, Alexey Shishkin, an assistant at the Department of Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine and Physical Education at the Institute of Preventive Medicine at Pirogov University, said that shoveling snow is a good full-fledged functional workout in the fresh air, combining cardio and strength work, which improves health, but it must be done correctly.

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