No sled? No problem! Try these DIY alternatives (which you probably already own)

More snow is likely in the Triangle later this week, with up to 5 inches of the powdery white stuff expected by Saturday morning.

While snow haters probably aren’t thrilled with the forecast, we are — especially because it means quality sledding conditions could be in the cards.

But what if you don’t have a sled? Since snow isn’t always guaranteed for North Carolina winters, you might not keep one around. Or maybe you’ve tried to purchase one locally, but stores were out of stock.

Never fear.

There are plenty of do-it-yourself alternatives to actual sleds that can get the job done — and you probably keep most of them around your house already.

If you need some inspiration for items to use as sleds, here are some ideas.

Note: Some items might not withstand your sledding session and could break or be damaged, so make sure you’re ready to part with any item you use before taking them to the hills.

Plastic storage container lids

Lots of people use large plastic storage containers (think brands like Rubbermaid) to store holiday decorations, out-of-season clothes or other odds and ends.

The containers’ lids are flat, and the plastic material is sure to slide smoothly on the snow.

Cookie trays and baking sheets

Are you an avid baker? Grab the biggest metal cookie tray or baking sheet from your kitchen and hit the snow.

Want to make sure your sled goes fast down the hill? Try bringing along some cooking spray or grease, also from your kitchen, and apply it to the bottom of the pans.

Boogie boards and other beach equipment

North Carolina is home to plenty of great beaches. If you take vacations to the coast, you might have a boogie board lying around your house.

If you think about it, boogie boards, with their flat bottoms and other features meant to ride waves, pretty closely resemble some sleds, making them prime candidates for slipping and sliding down snow-covered hills.

Other equipment made for riding waves, such as skim boards or even surf boards, could also work.

Inner tubes and pool floats

Sticking with the water theme, inflatable inner tubes and other forms of water floats (think the flat kinds you’d use in a pool) can make great sleds.

Just watch out for rocks, sticks and other objects that could pop the floats, or keep a patching kit handy.

Bonus points on the hill if you have one of those inner tubes that looks like a unicorn, a flamingo or other fun animals.

Cardboard

Order a large package recently and have big cardboard boxes still hanging out at home?

Cut the boxes up into flat, manageable pieces and you can use them as a sled.

The cardboard might get soaked through quickly, so it might be a good idea to bring a few pieces with you so that your sledding session doesn’t get cut short.

Kayaks and other small boats

If cruising along one of North Carolina’s many rivers is typically more your speed, maybe you have a kayak or other small boat on hand.

Swap your typical flowing waters for snow, and you could be paddling your way to plenty of fun.

We have to admit this wasn’t one of the first items that came to mind for this story, but some News & Observer file photos, including this one from 2015, gave us the timely inspiration.

Mattresses

For better or worse, college students in the Triangle are known to use mattresses from their dorms to sled down hills on their campuses.

We’re not sure this makes sense, as putting a mattress in snow means it will definitely get soaked, making for a cold and wet sleeping experience later on.

Perhaps using a mattress that you aren’t planning to sleep on is a better option.

Laundry baskets

Plastic laundry baskets can be used as sled alternatives, and some even have built-in handles that you can hang on to while going down the hill.

We recommend at least emptying the basket of laundry before you head out, but we’ll let you decide whether you want to actually start a load in the washing machine.

Who wants to do laundry on a snow day, anyway?

P.S. A small recycling bin can also work, but don’t tell your city waste department we said that.

Yoga and workout mats

If you own a yoga mat or have another mat that you use for working out, you could try using it as a sled for the day.

Snowboards or skis

If you don’t have a sled, chances are you also don’t have a snowboard or skis, but maybe you do.

We can’t promise that the hills in the Triangle will offer as much adventure as popular ski resorts, but it could be fun to try.

Toilet seats

We don’t recommend tearing apart your home just for the sake of finding a sled, but a News & Observer file photo from 2010 shows some Raleigh residents using toilet seats to sled down a snowy driveway.

Nothing

Don’t have any of the items listed here? If all else fails, you can try sitting and scooting down the hill on your own with nothing underneath you.