How to Remove Ice from Treated Wood Steps

Salt and calcium chloride help melt and prevent ice

Ice-covered steps are a common problem during the winter months, and the main culprit behind many slip and fall accidents. You needn't hesitate when using a de-icing agent with treated wood. Some de-icing agents can dry out untreated wood, but treated wood is less likely to be affected in this way. Of course, it's always best to clean the steps after the ice has melted in order to maintain the quality of the wood.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Rock salt
• Calcium chloride
• Mop and bucket
• Snow shovel or broom

Instructions

1. Remove any snow from the icy steps. Use a snow shovel or broom to sweep away the snow. If using a shovel, be careful that you don't catch the edge on the steps and damage the wood.

2. Sprinkle rock salt onto the ice-covered steps if the temperature is above 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The closer the temperature is to 10 degrees, the more rock salt you'll need to use. However, do not throw large amounts of salt onto the ice with the hope that it will melt the ice faster. Start off with a little, and add more at a later time, if necessary. If the temperature is below 10 degrees, sprinkle calcium chloride pellets instead. Wear rubber gloves when sprinkling the de-icing agent onto the steps.

3. Allow the de-icing agent time to act. This will vary depending on the temperature, so you'll need to periodically check the steps. Again, add more de-icing agent if needed.

4. Mop the steps once the ice has melted. Soak up the melted ice and salt or calcium chloride, and drain the mop into a bucket. This will prevent the de-icing agent from washing off of the steps and potentially damaging nearby vegetation. It will also prevent the de-icing agent from being tracked into the house, where it may damage the carpet.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find rock salt and calcium chloride at most hardware or department stores, especially during the winter months.

• Calcium chloride is more expensive than salt, and should only be used in extremely frigid temperatures.

• If you don't have access to rock salt, you can use regular table salt to melt the ice on your treated steps.

References

• Clean Link: Ice Melt Do's and Don'ts
• Weather Savvy: Why Does Salt Melt Ice?

Resources

• Morton Salt: Road & Sidewalk Salt FAQs