How to Melt Snow & Ice With Salt
One of the quickest ways to remove snow and ice from your walkway is to melt it away with salt. Rock salt makes the freezing point of water lower. When you place salt on ice, it literally melts it back to water. The key to successfully using salt to melt snow and ice is to place it as close to the surface you wish to keep clear. Rock salt is available at most hardware stores and home improvement centers. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Shovel away snow until you are near the ground or sidewalk level, if the snow is over 2 inches deep. You want to place the rock salt as close as possible to the ice and ground.
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Open a bag of rock salt and scoop out salt in a cup. Spread the salt around the area and allow it to work for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a seed spreader to distribute the salt over a large area. Remember to wash the spreader thoroughly afterward to prevent corrosion.
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Remove the melting snow and ice with a shovel once the salt begins to melt the ice and snow. Thicker portions of ice might require another application of salt. Apply salt to the bare ground or pavement after clearing the snow and ice to help prevent ice accumulation.
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Spread rock salt over bare pavement and walkways before a winter storm begins. This helps to keep walkways clear which requires less shoveling after the storm.
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Tips & Warnings
Although not as effective, regular table salt can be used on bare walkways to help prevent ice buildup before a storm.
Avoid using salt on wood decks. If you must use salt to remove ice on your deck, rinse it away thoroughly as soon as possible.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
