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"This story originally appeared on PopularMechanics.com. Raking is a fine way to rid your lawn of dropped leaves\u2014if you have the time and energy. If you&amp;#039;d rather get your yardwork done quickly, a leaf blower is the answer. One problem, however: Blowers can be noisy. But you can use one to clean up without disturbing the peace.  Upgrade  Today&amp;#039;s leaf blowers are quieter than older models, with some updated versions claiming to dull the noise by several orders of magnitude compared with older models. If you&amp;#039;re looking to quietly remove the leaves from your yard, the first step is to make sure you&amp;#039;re using a newer model leaf blower. Your ears, and your neighbors, will thank you.  Go Electric  Electric leaf blowers, which plug into an outlet and come equipped with a long cord, are typically quieter than their gas counterparts. Some cities and towns with leaf blower restrictions go so far as to ban the gas models, leaving electric as your only option. (There are municipalities that also ban electric models, so make sure whichever model you buy is acceptable for use in your neighborhood.)   But noise reduction comes at a cost\u2014quieter models are simply less powerful. So if you&amp;#039;re clearing a large area, sacrificing that power may not be worth the extra time you spend working with a less powerful motor.  Read the Manual  Many leaf blowers come with nozzles or attachments that can help reduce noise, but they work only if you use them properly. When purchasing a leaf blower, ask a knowledgeable sales associate for a model with these options. Read the operating manual thoroughly and familiarize yourself with the accessories. Some leaf blowers also offer variable-speed motors that allow you to adjust the power to fit your needs. Setting the motor at a lower level means less noise.  Be Courteous  Maybe you&amp;#039;re the kind of person who springs out of bed at dawn, ready to take on the day. If so, don&amp;#039;t plan to use your leaf blower as you watch the sun rise. Besides making you a bad neighbor, it&amp;#039;s also likely your city or town has rules in place that dictate how early or late you can use motorized yard tools. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a7113/leaf-blower/>