How to Melt Surface Ice on Sidewalks

Remove surface ice from sidewalks without damaging your plants or lawn.

Freezing rains cause slippery roads, slick steps and icy sidewalks. This makes walking around the homestead very dangerous. Many accidents happen due to frozen ice on walking areas like sidewalks or porches. The easiest and most common method of removing ice uses salt. Make the home a safer place by removing ice from sidewalks and other walking areas using different types of salt without damaging your plants or lawn.

Things You'll Need

• Rock salt
• Shovel
• Calcium chloride salt pellets
• Potassium chloride salt
• Insulated gloves

Instructions

1. Put on gloves and dig a trench along each side of the sidewalk. This is where the water from the melted ice runs, so it doesn't refreeze on the sidewalk. Salt drains off into the trench with the water, and keeps it from damaging your lawn.

2. Pour a couple cups of potassium chloride salt on the icy surface if the temperature is above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Repeat on other areas until all the ice is covered. This type of salt in not harmful for surrounding ground vegetation.

3. Sprinkle a couple cups of rock salt on the icy surface if the average temperature is 16 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Repeat on other areas until all of the ice is covered.

4. Wait about 20 minutes, and shovel off as much ice as possible into the trenches. This salt type is mildly damaging to concrete, but it is safe for wood surfaces.

5. Sprinkle a couple cups of calcium chloride salt pellets on the area you are deicing if the temperatures are between 16 and 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Repeat on other areas until all of the ice is covered. Be cautious when using calcium chloride on concrete, as it damages the concrete.

Tips & Warnings

• Never try melting ice using hot water. Pouring hot water over ice creates more ice.

• Remember, icy surfaces are very slippery, and take precautions when moving around the icy surface where you walk.

• Rock salt and calcium chloride are very irritating to your skin. Potassium chloride salt doesn't irritate the skin but only melts ice at a higher air temperatures.

References

• Gardens Alive: Protect Your Plant When You Melt Sidewalk Ice
• Ask the Builder: Deicing Salt and Concrete
• You Ask Andy: How Does Salt Melt Ice On The Sidewalk