How to Apply Salt on Sidewalk Ice

Snow and ice can cause slips and falls on sidewalks, making it dangerous to merely walk to your car. Using deicing salt products on an icy sidewalk can quickly melt the ice, creating a safer place to walk, which is essential on high-traffic sidewalks. The salt counteracts the bond that is formed between the sidewalk surface and water, which leads to the ice melting. Shoveling or braking up as much as ice as you can prior to using the salt will help the ice work more efficiently and quickly.

Gloves
Salt

Instructions

- 1
  Read the directions of your salt if you're using a commercial deicing product. Some types of salt work best in different temperatures and require different amounts of salt. Calcium chloride works in below zero temperatures and doesn't require a lot\ but it's more expensive than "rock salt." Rock salt, which is also called "sodium chloride," is like table salt and works in temperatures below freezing, down to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Magnesium chloride is less harmful to the environment than calcium chloride and works in temperatures down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2
  Put on a pair of gloves, particularly if you're using calcium chloride, which can cause skin irritation.
- 3
  Sprinkle the salt on the ice spanning the sidewalk, avoiding vegetation where possible. The salt can be harmful to plants, trees, grass and shrubs, such as roses, dogwood, Kentucky bluegrass or red maple trees. Using too much salt will not speed up the melting process but can prove harmful to your plants and trees.

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