Tips on Dealing With an Icy Driveway

Set an early alarm so you won’t have to rush through the de-icing procedure.

Icy driveways can delay your morning commute and even pose a slippery health hazard for pedestrians. A bag of de-icing salt can help you overcome winter weather obstacles as you prepare to leave home. However, when handling salt, you need to take certain precautions to avoid damaging your surroundings. Wake up early to begin the de-icing procedure and stay on schedule.

Things You'll Need

• Rock salt
• Shovel
• Trash can
• Sand

Instructions

1. Clear away top layers of snow with a shovel or snow blower. Direct the snow toward the sides of the driveway. Avoid piling snow in the street or near fire hydrants.

2. Apply a thin layer rock salt to the icy area. Begin at the top of your driveway and zigzag your way to the end for a thorough covering. Avoid metal fixtures or exposed soil and plants.

3. Let the rock salt sit for 30 minutes. The ice will melt into slush.

4. Shovel the slush into a garbage can. Avoid tossing it onto your lawn where the salt content will harm plants.

5. Apply sand or cat litter to stubborn patches of ice. This will help create traction.

Tips & Warnings

• Perform warm-up exercises to stretch your muscles and improve circulation before shoveling snow.

• Always dress in layers when working in cold temperatures.

• When shoveling, focus on using the muscles in your shoulders, torso and legs. This will help you minimize back strain. Stop working if you experience pain, shortness of breath or dizziness.

• Alternatives to rock salt include magnesium chloride, calcium chloride and potassium chloride. Magnesium chloride works well in temperatures as low as minus 13 degrees. This compound is less corrosive than rock salt, so your nearby plants, metal fixtures and concrete will not suffer as much damage. Calcium chloride will work in temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees. It can corrode metal and damage new concrete. Potassium chloride is relatively safe to use around plants, but it is expensive and takes longer to work. It will be ineffective in temperatures below 25 degrees.

References

• University of Maryland Cooperative Extension: Melting Ice Safely