How to Use a Shovel and Sand to De-Ice Steps
Shoveling and de-icing your steps during and in preparation for a winter storm is important for your safety and that of others. This guide will provide you with practical suggestion for clearing snow and ice from steps safely and effectively. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Put on your gloves to protect your hands and keep them warm. Pour de-icing sand into a medium sized bucket.
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Grabbing a handful of sand from the bucket at a time, sprinkle the sand/salt mixture onto your steps. Do not overdue it, but do put down a layer that is consistent enough to provide traction until the ice begins to melt.
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Give the salt time to work, perhaps 45 minutes to 1 hour.
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After the ice has started to melt, use the shovel to chip into the ice and break it up.
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Scoop up the the broken ice with the shovel and remove it from the stairs.
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Tips & Warnings
Give yourself extra time. If it is a particularly cold day, it may take a bit longer for the de-icing sand to work.
To avoid injury shovel small scoops of ice at a time.
If you know that there will be inclement weather you can put down sand ahead of time to keep the ice from building up as much, if at all.
