How to Treat Icy Paths

Wear boots with bottom treads, which allow your feet to better grip icy surfaces.

Apply sand or birdseed generously to increase traction on icy paths. This makes it easier for you to stand and walk as you treat the path. Avoid applying products like cat litter, which may become messy as ice melts.

Apply approximately a handful of rock salt to each square foot of the path. Rock salt and other de-icing products work by loosening the ice from below, making it easier to remove by shoveling or plowing, but applying more than the recommended amount will not increase the product’s effectiveness.

Leave the salt on the path until the ice begins to loosen. The time required for ice to melt varies depending on the amount of ice, temperature and weather conditions.

Remove ice from the path with a shovel or snow blower as it begins to loosen. Do not shovel ice or snow into the street or around public utilities, such as fire hydrants. Use caution when shoveling ice and snow to avoid falls or injuries.